Lead Test Results

  • 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.

    Veolia Water, which was formerly 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-June 24, 2020 
      • All water fountains closed for the entirety of 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years
      • Bathroom sinks taken out of use to enable social distancing for the entirety of 2020-2021 school year 

    For the 2022-2023 school year, water sources taken offline for COVID-19 have now been tested and returned to service. 

    To facilitate the test program, the District continued engagement with 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. Sampling took place on several days in 2021 and 2022. The water outlets that exceeded the 15 ppb standard are listed by school in the dropdown menus below, along with school-specific remediation efforts and final results. 

    Sinks will continue to be labeled with signs stating, “Do Not Drink from Sink.” All water fountains following the 2016 testing tested within acceptable levels.

Water Outlets Exceeding 15ppb Standard

Expand All

  • Bardonia Elementary

  • Birchwood Elementary

  • Lakewood Elementary

  • Laurel Plains Elementary

  • Link Elementary

  • Little Tor Elementary

  • New City Elementary

  • Strawtown Elementary

  • West Nyack Elementary

  • Woodglen Elementary

  • Felix Festa Middle School

  • Clarkstown High School North

  • Clarkstown High School South