The message from Lake Washington School District is a good one: We’re nothing like Flint, Michigan.

Parents of students at Juanita High School received a bit of a scare in late November when principal Gary Moed released an email warning of lead in the water at one of the oldest district facilities. Several fixtures had tested positive for elevated levels of lead, the email read, but the school was in the process of fixing the problem.

Of 59 fixtures tested at Juanita, seven showed levels above the district’s limit.

And while lead might sound unnerving, especially after stories of lead poisoning in Michigan, the problem facing district is much easier to solve and shouldn’t be dangerous for students whatsoever.

For the most part, fixtures simply need a rinse.

District Communications Director Kathryn Reith was quick to point out that parents really don’t have reason to fear.

“There are lots of things in water in small numbers, like parts per billion, that are so little they don’t show up in testing when the water is flowing,” Reith said. “Kirkland and Redmond have good water sources. There’s not a lot of bad things in the water, but small particles in the water can get caught in filters.”

Most of the fixtures were faucets, like those in science classrooms, that are used less often and rarely used for drinking. Over time, a tiny amount can build up and trigger a positive reading when tested — but only when the test is done after the fixture had been unused for hours or days.

Once the water has been flowing for a minute or two, the levels drop down to an acceptable amount. And once the fixtures had been repaired and re-tested, each fixture came out clean.

Juanita High School, which will be replaced in the coming years, is part of the second wave of district-wide lead testing. The district tests all new buildings before they’re opened, and is working through the existing buildings despite a lack of state funding for the testing program.

Bell Elementary, International Community School, Peter Kirk Elementary and Rose Hill Middle School were all tested last spring. Alcott Elementary, Emerson High (formerly BEST), Evergreen Middle School, Kamiakin Elementary, Mead Elementary, Rockwell Elementary and Smith Elementary were tested this fall.

Reith said several fixtures needed replacing at Rockwell and Evergreen elementries. Smith Elementary was the only facility with zero fixtures above the district threshold.

The district hasn’t discovered any issues with lead pipes or lead in the water source, Reith said. More schools will be tested in the coming months.