Report finds elevated lead at school drinking-water outlets in three counties
A report says 42% of New York schools face challenges involving lead detected in drinking-water systems, with Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties among those with the highest rates, while local districts described steps they take when testing exceeds the state limit.
A report from the New York Public Interest Research Group, Environment America and the Frontier Group says lead was detected in drinking-water systems at 42% of New York schools. It identified Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties as having some of the highest rates of elevated lead levels in the state.
New York’s action level for school drinking-water outlets is 5 parts per billion. Jefferson-Lewis BOCES officials said outlets exceeding that level are taken out of service for drinking and food preparation until they are remediated. Watertown Central School District representatives said the district is seeking state grant funding to replace aging fixtures and plumbing lines. Carthage Central School District officials said they take immediate corrective action when an outlet exceeds the state threshold.
This story was written from a community submission and reviewed by a ClickNNY editor before publication.