Lead Test Results
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Lead testing was performed throughout all District buildings in 2016 based on guidance issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on water testing in schools. Water outlets at that time that exceeded the maximum recommended threshold of 15 parts per billion (ppb) were remediated or removed from service.
In the spring of 2021, the District retested water outlets at all schools for lead, focusing on internal plumbing and fixtures, in accordance with the new New York State Department of Health Testing in School Drinking Water Program Guidance Manual. We would like to provide some background on our current actions, share the results of the more recent water sampling tests throughout the District and give an overview of our next steps.
SUEZ Water is the District’s water supplier and supplies water to most of the homes in our community. Pursuant to discussions with the Rockland County Department of Health, there is no indication that this source of water contributes to lead levels within our schools.
Please note that since March 13, 2020, the District has undertaken a number of COVID-19 Mitigation actions that have resulted in the reduced use or lack of use of several water outlets throughout the District:- March 2020-September 2020 / No students and staff at school buildings
- September 29, 2020 - present
- All water fountains closed
- Bathroom sinks taken out of use to enable social distancing for the entirety of 2020-2021 school year.
To facilitate the test program, the District engaged Adelaide Environmental Health Associates, Inc., who performed lead testing in 2016, and is a leading expert in water quality testing. Adelaide assisted the District in developing the plan, and implemented all testing using an environmental laboratory certified by the NYSDOH Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP).
Key components of the District’s plan:
- Determine the Scope - Sample testing in all school buildings
- Identify Sampling Locations - based on NYSDOH Lead Testing in School Drinking Water Program Guidance Manual
- Sample all drinking fountains; kitchen sinks; classroom combination sinks and drinking fountains; home economic room sinks; teacher's lounge sinks; nurse's office sinks; classroom sinks in special education classrooms; bathroom sinks; and any water source known to be or visibly used for consumption (for example, coffee maker or cups are nearby)
- Identify Testing Protocol - “first draw” samples, which are designed to represent a reasonable “worst case” for potential exposure to lead
- Identify and put in place corrective action plans for any water outlet that does not meet the NYSDOH recommended standard, which is a lead level above 15 ppb
Results
As a result of the above process, a number of water outlets throughout the District were identified for “first draw” testing.
The water outlets that exceeded the 15 ppb standard are listed by school in the dropdown menus below.
Please note that since September 2020, all water fountains have been off-line as a COVID-19 mitigation action. Test results that exceed the 15 ppb were not unexpected due to the lack of use of the fountains. Fresh drinking water has been provided using filtered water bottle fillers. All of these sinks listed had been labeled following the 2016 testing with signs stating, “Do Not Drink from Sink.” All water fountains following the 2016 testing tested within acceptable levels.
Water Outlets Exceeding 15ppb Standard
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Bardonia Elementary
BAR-02- Kitchen Wall 1 Sink 1 Faucet 2 (Right Faucet) - 24.1 ppb
BAR-21- Classroom 107 Wall 3 Sink - 16.2 ppb
BAR-45- Classroom 300 Wall 3 Water Fountain - 21.6 ppb
BAR-51- Classroom 309 Wall 2 Water Fountain - 18.5 ppb
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Birchwood Elementary
BWD-09: Classroom 103 Wall 1 Water Fountain - 747 ppb
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Lakewood Elementary
LW 11: Music Room Wall 4 Sink - 18.4 ppb
LW 23: Classroom 108 Wall 1 Sink - 22.6 ppb
LW 31: Staff Bathroom by Room 214 Wall 2 Sink - 215 ppb
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Laurel Plains Elementary
LP-36: Conference Room Wall 1 Sink 1 - 19.2 ppb
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Link Elementary
LES-35: Library Office Wall 3 Sink 1 - 26.8 ppb
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Little Tor Elementary
LT 11: Men's Bathroom Wall 4 Sink 2 - 17.5 ppb
LT 36: Library Bathroom Wall 2 Sink 1- 38.6 ppb
LT 41: Room 9 Wall 4 Sink 1 - 15.8 ppb
LT 48: Exterior Faucet 1 - 180 ppb
LT 49: Exterior Faucet 2 - 202 ppb
LT:50: Exterior Faucet 4 - 24.1 ppb
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New City Elementary
NC-05: First Floor Men’s Bathroom Wall 2 Sink 1 - 25.4 ppb
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Strawtown Elementary
ST-20: Room 107 Sink 1 Wall 1 - 20.1 ppb
ST-41: Exterior Near Room 106 Faucet 2 - 228 ppb
ST-42: Exterior Near Room 101 Faucet 1 - 3620 ppb
ST-43: Exterior Near Room 121 Faucet 4 - 387 ppb
ST-44: Exterior Near Room 115 Faucet 5 - 48.3 ppb
ST-45: Exterior Near Boiler Room Faucet 7 - 22.7 ppb
ST-46: Exterior Near Room 149 Faucet 8 - 72.3 ppb
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West Nyack Elementary
WN-06 - Cafeteria Fountain Wall 4 - 99.7 ppb
WN-19 - Room 128 Fountain Wall 3 - 21.7 ppb
WN-25 - 1st Floor Room 131 Fountain Wall 3 - 27.1 ppb
WN-28 - 1st Floor Room 133 Sink Wall 4 - 18.6 ppb
WN-30 - 1st Floor Room 134 Sink Wall 2 - 77.7 ppb
WN-36 - 1st Floor Art Room Fountain Wall 2 - 21.7 ppb
WN-72 - Fountain by Nurses Office Wall 2 - 110 ppb
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Woodglen Elementary
WD-20: Music Room Wall 2 Sink - 18.6 ppb
WD-24: Room 131 Wall 4 Bathroom Sink - 27 ppb
WD-39: Room 250 Bathroom Wall 2 Sink - 16.8 ppb
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Felix Festa Middle School
A Wing:
FFA-008: First Floor Hallway by Psychologist Office Fountain - 45.1 ppb
B Wing:
FFB-11: Cafeteria Behind Counter Wall 1 Sink 1 - 31.1 ppb
FFB-17: 2nd Cafeteria Wall 1 Water Fountain 1 (Right) - 39.7 ppb
FFB-18: 2nd Cafeteria Wall 1 Water Fountain 2 (Left) - 36.5 ppb
FFB-19: Room B106 Wall 4 Water Fountain 1 - 62.6 ppb
FFB-22: Room B105 Wall 3 Water Fountain 1 - 15.6 ppb
FFB-40: Space 1043 Wall 3 Sink 1 - 137 ppb
FFB-67: Girl’s Locker Room Trainer Room Wall 2 Sink 1 - 46.1 ppb
C Wing:
FFC-17: 1st Floor Main Office Work Room C Wall 2 Sink - 15.4 ppb
D Wing:
FFD-10: 1st Floor Boys Room Wall 2 Sink 1 - 15.9 ppb
FFD-16: 2nd Floor Hallway Wall 2 Water Fountain - 20.9 ppb
FFD-17: 2nd Floor Hallway Wall 2 Water Fountain - 116 ppb
FFD-18: 2nd Floor Girls Room Wall 4 Sink 1 (Left) - 16.8 ppb
FFD-19: 2nd Floor Girls Room Wall 4 Sink 2 (Middle Left) - 17.4 ppb
FFD-20: 2nd Floor Girls Room Wall 4 Sink 3 (Middle Right) - 230 ppb
E Wing:
FFE-2: 1st Floor Room E-102 Wall 1 Water Fountain - 52.3 ppb
FFE-3: 1st Floor Girls Bathroom Wall 3 Sink 1 - 19.1 ppb
FFE-21: Ground Floor Boys Instructor 3 Bathroom Wall 3 Sink - 21.5 ppb
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Clarkstown High School North
NHS-06- Basement Kitchen Wall 1 (Center) Sink 3 - 15.8 ppb
NHS-07- Basement Kitchen Wall 4 Sink 4 - 15.1 ppb
NHS-29- 1st Floor Main Office Hallway Fountain - 110.0 ppb
NHS-31- 1st Floor Room 186 Wall 4 Sink 1 - 16.4 ppb
NHS-39- 1st Floor Lab Wall 4 Sink 1 (Right) - 47.5 ppb
NHS-42- 1st Floor Room 148B Wall 4 Sink 1 (Right) - 57.7 ppb
NHS-44- 1st Floor Room 148A Wall 1 Sink 1(Middle) - 23.2 ppb
NHS-45- 1st Floor Room 148A Wall 1 Sink 1 (Right) - 55.2 ppb
NHS-56- 2nd Floor Boy’s Room Wall 2 Sink 1 - 256.0 ppb
NHS-57- 2nd Floor Boy’s Room Wall 2 Sink 2 - 55.4 ppb
NHS-67- 2nd Floor Mansion Bathroom Wall 4 Sink 2 - 38.6 ppb
NHS ANNEX-11- 1st Floor Kitchen Wall 3 Hose Bib - 703.0 ppb
NHS ANNEX-25- 1st Floor Classroom 504 Wall 2 Sink 1 Faucet 2 - 44.6 ppb
NHS ANNEX-26- 1st Floor Classroom 504 Wall 2 Sink 1 Faucet 3 - 59.2 ppb
NHS ANNEX-31- 1st Floor Classroom 503 Wall 1 Sink 1 Faucet 1 - 31.1 ppb
NHS ANNEX-34- 1st Floor Classroom 503 Wall 1 Sink 2 Faucet 2 - 22.0 ppb
NHS ANNEX-40- 2nd Floor Men’s Bathroom Wall 4 Sink 1 - 15.9 ppb
NHS ANNEX-59- Lower Level Hallway Wall 1 Water Fountain Bubbler - 54.8 ppb
NHS ANNEX-60- Lower Level Women’s Staff Bathroom Wall 4 Sink 1 - 131.0 ppb
NHS ANNEX-62- Lower Level Women’s Staff Bathroom Wall 4 Sink 3 - 15.9 ppb
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Clarkstown High School South
1-SHS-08 1st Floor/Auditorium/Girl’s Dressing Room/Wall 3 Sink 1 - 30.6 ppb
1-SHS-11 1st Floor/Auditorium/Boy’s Dressing Room/Wall 3 Sink 1 - 60.9 ppb
1-SHS-23 1st Floor/Girl’s Locker Room/Wall 1 Sink 2 - 38.5 ppb
1-SHS-62 2nd Floor/Additional Bathroom in Women’s/Wall 3 Sink 1 - 22.2 ppb
1-SHS-65 2nd Floor/Women’s Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 3 - 20.6 ppb
1-SHS-66 2nd Floor/Women’s Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 4 - 23.3 ppb
1-SHS-74 3rd Floor/Men’s Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 3 - 23.0 ppb
1-SHS-78 3rd Floor/Women’s Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 2 - 18.0 ppb
1-SHS-79 3rd Floor/Women’s Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 3 - 22.3 ppb
1-SHS-80 3rd Floor/Women’s Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 4 - 82.7 ppb
2-SHS-19 1st Floor/Room 145/Wall 1 Sink 1 - 57.6 ppb
2-SHS-20 1st Floor/Room 145/Wall 1 Sink 2 - 15.3 ppb
2-SHS-26 1st Floor/Men’s Faculty Bathroom/Wall 2 Sink 2 - 17.1 ppb
2-SHS-46 1st Floor/Kitchen/Wall 1 Pot Filler 1 - 72.0 ppb
Immediate Actions & Next Steps
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Based on the most recent finding, all sinks were taken off-line to allow for further evaluation and remediation such as replacing the fixture or piping. As all water fountains are off-line throughout the district, no immediate action is necessary.
Following the remediation of the sinks, they will be retested and returned to service when the appropriate testing threshold is met. The sinks will continue to be labeled with “Do Not Drink Water from Sink” signage.
The water fountains will be remediated and retested, and will be returned to service upon compliant results and the lifting of COVID-19 protocols.
The health and safety of our students and staff members is always our primary concern.
For comprehensive information relating to lead in water testing, please refer to the following informative resources.