Water Quality Testing
North Kitsap School District has a water quality testing program to manage drinking water fixtures district-wide. As of 2021, Washington state law (RCW 28A.210.410 and RCW 43.70.830) requires drinking water in all K–12 public schools built, or with all plumbing replaced, before 2016 be tested for lead. The purpose of lead testing is to identify drinking water outlets that are potential sources of lead exposure. It is natural for lead to accumulate in older or infrequently used drinking water outlets. These outlets are identified through testing so they can be shut off or replaced to reduce exposure to lead from school drinking water.
We will take action on all water outlets with lead levels greater than 5 parts per billion as outlined below:
- Develop action plans for water outlets if lead levels exceed 5 parts per billion within six months.
Outlets that exceed 15 parts per billion will be addressed as soon as possible:
- These locations will be shut down and removed from service, to be resolved when the action plan is implemented.
Some remediation may include the following actions:
- Cleaning or replacing aerators
- Repairing or replacing fixtures using certified lead-free materials
- Retesting water to ensure remediation
- Receiving retesting results from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
To learn more please visit the Washington State Department of Health web page on lead frequently asked questions and resources and the Environmental Protection Agency's web page on lead in drinking water.
Proposed Action Plan: Lead in Drinking Water
North Kitsap School District has developed a proposed Action Plan: Lead in Drinking Water following lead testing completed in spring 2026. The plan documents testing results at each school, the steps taken to address outlets above the state’s action level of 5 parts per billion (ppb), and the additional work and testing that is still underway.
Washington State law requires the district to develop an Action Plan when elevated lead levels are found and provide the public an opportunity to review and comment on the plan before it is adopted by the School Board.
The proposed Action Plan is open for public comment from September 10 through October 11, 2026. All written comments received during the comment period will be provided to the School Board. The Board is scheduled to consider the plan for adoption at its October 15 meeting.
Proposed Action Plan Lead in Drinking Water
You do not need to provide your name to submit a comment. Comments submitted to the district are public records and may be disclosed upon request.
What happens next?
Repairs and testing do not stop while the Action Plan is under review. Most affected outlets have been returned to service following repairs and retesting. A small number remain out of service for drinking or cooking while additional work and testing are completed. The district will continue to share updates as results are received.
Testing Reports
Breidablik Elementary: Testing Report, Community Notification May 2026, Community Update September 2026, Remediation Plan
Kingston High School: Testing Report, Community Notification May 2026, Community Update September 2026, Remediation Plan
Kingston Middle School: Testing Report, Community Notification May 2026, Community Update September 2026, Remediation Plan
Poulsbo Middle School: Testing Report, Community Notification May 2026, Community Update September 2026, Remediation Plan
North Kitsap High School: Testing Report, Community Notification May 2026, Community Update September 2026, Remediation Plan