BILLINGS - Schools all across the country are working to clean up issues with their drinking water. Amid national concerns KULR-8 looks into the state of Billings' water supply.

Tainted water sickened Minnesota students in 2001, and in parts of California students have resorted to bringing their own bottled water to school.

From pesticides to lead, contaminants have been found in school drinking water in all 50 states. Schools with their own wells have had the most issues, with 1-in-5 violating the Safe Drinking Water Act.

"All of our 37 buildings have water directly from the public utilities," said School District Two's Facilities Director Rich Whitney. "I'm absolutely confident in its safety," said Billings Water Production Superintendent Michael Rubich.

But a safe city supply doesn't necessarily put schools in the clear. "We're responsible to deliver the water to your facility," said Rubich, "the owner is responsible at that point on."

Schools built before World War II often have lead pipes, and if they corrode the hazardous element can be found in the water. "We've got schools here that are over 100 years old," said Whitney.

Rubich said they try to keep pipes from corroding. "We're obligated under the copper and lead rule to make changes in our water chemistry if we determine our water is causing corrosion," he said.

The EPA doesn't require water testing from schools on public supply. "We rely on the city monitoring their own process," said Whitney, "we don't test as a regular scheduled item." School officials thought it'd be wise to check anyway.

Similar voluntary tests in other U.S. cities have shown high quantities of lead, but water experts said they don't expect that here. Test results aren't back yet, but school district personnel said they'll share them when they are.

Mike Rubich has confidence in the city's water, "but I would urge anyone who has concerns, including schools, to test their own internal plumbing," he said.

Barring surprising test results, water supplies for School District Two appear to have a clean bill of health.