KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — About two dozen water fountains are off-limits at Kaiserslautern, Ramstein and Vogelweh schools due to elevated lead levels, school officials announced this week.

None of the fountains were found to contain harmful levels of lead, but the water fountains are being blocked off as a precaution until retesting can be done and, if necessary, repairs made, according to a memorandum sent to students, parents and staff members by Frank Simone, acting superintendent of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe Kaiserslautern District.

Air Force bio-environmental experts tested the water in July and results were turned over this month.

Of more than 1,100 faucets and water fountains tested, samples from 26 water fountains were found to be above the desired maximum lead content, the school memo stated. Retesting is underway and the schools are “working with the experts in the military community to minimize the potential of lead contamination in our water supply,” Simone’s memo said.

The testing was done in the summer, when pipes had been in disuse. Water lines at the schools are being flushed daily.

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