On Sept. 6, 2016, New York became the first state in the nation to require all public schools and BOCES to test all sources of drinking water for lead. At that time, if any water outlet was found to have a lead level above the state’s action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), a school district had to: take immediate steps to prohibit use of the outlet for drinking or cooking purposes; implement an appropriate remediation plan; and ensure that students and staff have an adequate supply of water for drinking and cooking while remedial steps are taken.
The law was amended beginning in 2022-23, changing the time frame for testing and the action level for lead, among other changes. School districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) are now required to test water outlets for lead every three years, unless the state commissioner of health requests individual districts to test sooner. The state’s 2023 revised action level of lead in drinking water is 5 parts per billion (ppb), reduced from 15 ppb. School buildings deemed “lead-free” are no longer exempt from testing requirements.
Full reports for each school building in our district are provided under “Water Testing Results.”
Lead-Free Buildings
Lead-free, as defined by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, is based on the lead content of plumbing materials. Federal laws enacted in 1986, and updated in 2011, limit the amount of lead that can be used in new plumbing and fixtures. A building can be deemed lead-free if it was built after Jan. 4, 2014, or a New York State licensed Professional Engineer or Architect certifies it to be lead-free. Under New York’s new law, school districts are not required to conduct water testing in buildings designated as lead-free. The district has no buildings designated as lead-free, as defined by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
General FAQ
Why are school districts testing for lead?
With heightened awareness of water quality issues around the country, New York adopted these water testing regulations to help ensure that children are protected from lead exposure while in school. According to the state Department of Health, lead is a common metal found in the environment, but it is also a toxic material that can be harmful if ingested or inhaled.
Although the primary source of lead exposure for most children is lead-based paint, exposure can also come from drinking water as a result of the lead content of plumbing materials and source water. While federal law now restricts the amount of lead used in new plumbing materials, the corrosion of older plumbing and fixtures in many buildings can cause lead to enter drinking water.
Where will districts test for lead?
Under the new state law, school districts must collect samples to be tested from every possible source of water used for drinking and cooking in any buildings that may be occupied by students. These outlets include, but may
not be limited to, drinking fountains (both bubbler and water-cooler types), kitchen sinks, classroom combination sinks/drinking fountains, student restroom sinks and nurse’s office sinks. To comply with the regulations, water samples must be collected when water has been motionless for at least 8 hours but no more than 18 hours.
When will I know the results of water testing at my school?
That depends. While the state gave school districts deadlines for the water sampling, it requires the testing to be completed by a state-approved laboratory. So how quickly a district receives the results depends upon how quickly the lab can turn the samples around.
Once school districts receive the results, if any outlets exceed the action level, districts are required to notify all staff and parents/guardians in writing about the test results within 10 business days. Within six weeks of receiving the results, districts must post all results and any remediation plans on their websites.
What happens if the lead level in my child’s school exceeds the “action level”?
If test results show the lead concentration of water at an outlet exceeds the action level, schools must immediately prohibit the use of the outlet for drinking or cooking purposes and implement a remediation plan, under the guidance of the Department of Health, to address the issue. The outlet may not be used until follow-up test results indicate that lead levels are at or below the action level.
Are schools required to test for lead in the future?
Schools will need to conduct water testing again in 2025 and every five years thereafter, or sooner if required by the state Commissioner of Health.
What if I have more questions?
If you have health concerns, it is always best to consult your family’s physician.
For information about lead in school drinking water, go to:
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/lead_testing_of_school_drinking_water.htm
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/facplan/LeadTestinginSchoolDrinkingWater.html
For information about NYS DOH Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, go to:
http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/
For more information on blood lead testing and ways to reduce your child’s risk of exposure to lead, see “What Your Child’s Blood Lead Test Means”:
http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2526/ (available in ten languages).