Lead safety check·November 15, 2023

On 11/15/2023, at approximately 1:30PM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Jonathan Tse conducted an unannounced case management visit regarding an Action Level Exceedance (ALE) due to lead in the Child Care Center's water. LPA was granted entry to the facility by Director, Julie Picardal. LPA explained the purpose of the visit. Present during the visit were six staff and 33 children. The facility is in compliance with staff-child ratios. LPA discussed the new Assembly Bill (AB) 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018 requires the Lead Testing of water in the Child Care Center with the site director during the inspection. All Child Care Centers that are located in buildings constructed before January 1, 2010, must have their water tested and post the results by January 1, 2023, and every 5 years after the date of the first testing. The facility initially tested its water for lead on 12/22/2022 and was in compliance with the testing requirement. The facility received its initial ALE report from the Vendor on 2/3/2023. Test results for four fixtures in this facility exceeded a higher level of parts per billion (ppb) allowed, 5.5 ppb, fixtures A(26.0), B(13.0), F(5.7), and H(36.0). Fixtures A and H are water fountains located outside the classrooms. Fixture B is a staff hand washing sink located in the bathroom of the Wise Owls B classroom. Fixture F is a kitchen sink in the staff lunch room that is used for food preparation. The facility ceased use of all affected fixtures until the fixtures received lead filters and used water from unaffected fixtures. The facility retested the four fixtures on 5/13/2023 and all affected fixtures are now under the ALE of 5.5ppb. The parts per billion are as follows: A(<1.0), B(<1.0), F(<1.0), and H(2.7). All other fixtures tested below the threshold and are in compliance with the Written Directives detailed in PIN 21-21.1-CCP. Per Written Directives 101700.3(b)(2), licensees shall maintain a lead value at or below 5ppb in all outlets subject to testing requirements for the health and safety of children in care. The Written Directives are included in HSC 1597.16, and are specific guidelines for facilities to adhere to regarding lead water testing. Due to updated guidance on the written directives in PIN 21-21.1-CCP, the facility will be cited for the ALE of fixtures A, B, F, and H. The deficiency will be cleared the same day of the visit because the fixtures have retested below the threshold. LPA advised that lead testing results and LIC forms 9275, 9276 and 999 should be posted. This report was reviewed and signed by Director, Julie Picardal.