A NOTICE TO PARENTS, GUARDIANS & STAFF
Onteora Middle/High School
Central Administration
Lead Testing of School Drinking Water
January 25, 2024
Safe and healthy school environments can foster healthy and successful children. To protect public health, the Public Health Law and New York State Health Department (NYSDOH) regulations require that all public schools and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) test lead levels in water from every outlet that is being used, or could potentially be used, for drinking or cooking. If lead is found at any water outlet at levels above 5 parts per billion (ppb), which is equal to 5 micrograms per liter (µg/L), the NYSDOH requires that the school to take action to reduce the exposure to lead.
What is first draw testing of school drinking water for lead?
The “on-again, off-again” nature of water use at most schools can raise lead levels in school drinking water. Water that remains in pipes overnight, over a weekend, or over vacation periods stays in contact with lead pipes or lead solder and, as a result, could contain higher levels of lead. This is why schools are required to collect a sample after the water has been sitting in the plumbing system for a certain period of time. This “first draw” sample is likely to show higher levels of lead for that outlet than what you would see if you sampled after using the water continuously. However, even if the first draw sample does not reflect what you would see with continuous usage, it is still important because it can identify outlets that have elevated lead levels.
What is being done in response to the results?
Fifty-three outlets were tested in the Middle/High School building. Five of those outlets tested with lead levels above the action level (5 ppb). These outlets were posted with handwashing only signs and all Ulster County Department of Health protocols have been followed. New lead reduction filters have been installed on four of these areas, retested, and have been put back into service.
Please see below, the results of the first draw testing for the Middle/High School and Central Administration building.
SAMPLE DELIVERY GROUP |
CLIENT SAMPLE ID |
DATE SAMPLED |
RESULT |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
B&G Break Room Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
B&G Break Room Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
B&G Custodial Break Room Ice Machine |
12/14/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Central Admin Break Room Sink |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Store Room Sink |
12/6/2023 |
0.00189 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Ice Machine |
12/14/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 1 |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 2 |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 3 |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 4 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00504 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 4 Retest |
1/4/2024 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 5 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00114 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 6 |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink 7 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00166 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Coffee Pt Water Line |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Pot Filler 1 Left |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Pot Filler 2 Right |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Kitchen Sink Sprayer |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Nurse's Exam Room Sink |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
MS Nurse's Office Sink |
12/6/2023 |
0.00121 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Main Hall staff breakroom sink |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Main Hall Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Main Hall Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
119 sink |
12/6/2023 |
0.00209 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
28 Hall Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
28 Hall Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Upper MS Staff lounge Sink |
12/6/2023 |
0.00209 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Upper MS Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Upper MS Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS 145 Sink 1 |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS 145 Sink 2 |
12/6/2023 |
0.0236 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS 145 Sink 2 Retest |
1/4/2024 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS 145 Sink 3 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00122 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS 145 Sink 4 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00116 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS 145 Sink 5 |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS Bottle Filler |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Lower MS Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Cafeteria Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Cafeteria Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Fitness Center Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Fitness Center Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Fitness Center Ice Machine |
12/14/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Foyer Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Foyer Water Cooler on Right |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
HS Foyer Water Cooler on Left |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Fitness Center Outside Spigot |
12/6/2023 |
0.00172 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
200 Office Sink |
12/6/2023 |
0.0450 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Science Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Science Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
208 Science Staff Lounge Sink |
12/6/2023 |
0.00247 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Math-Bottle Fill |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
Math-Water Fountain |
12/6/2023 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
163 Sink 2 |
12/6/2023 |
0.0112 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
163 Sink 2 Retest |
1/4/2024 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
163 Sink 3 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00728 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
163 Sink 3 Retest |
1/4/2024 |
<0.001 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
163 Sink 4 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00240 |
Onteora CSD High School/Middle School |
163 Sink 5 |
12/6/2023 |
0.00162 |
What are the health effects of lead?
Lead is a metal that can harm children and adults when it gets into their bodies. Lead is a known neurotoxin, particularly harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of children under 6 years old. Lead can harm a young child's growth, behavior, and ability to learn. Lead exposure during pregnancy may contribute to low birth weight and developmental delays in infants. There are many sources of lead exposure in the environment, and it is important to reduce all lead exposures as much as possible. Water testing helps identify and correct possible sources of lead that contribute to exposure from drinking water.
What are the other sources of lead exposure?
Lead is a metal that has been used for centuries for many purposes, resulting in widespread distribution in the environment. Major sources of lead exposure include lead-based paint in older housing, and lead that built up over decades in soil and dust due to historical use of lead in gasoline, paint, and manufacturing. Lead can also be found in a number of consumer products, including certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, foods, plumbing materials, and cosmetics. Lead seldom occurs naturally in water supplies but drinking water could become a possible source of lead exposure if the building’s plumbing contains lead. The primary source of lead exposure for most children with elevated blood-lead levels is lead-based paint.
Should your child be tested for lead?
The risk to an individual child from past exposure to elevated lead in drinking water depends on many factors; for example, a child’s age, weight, amount of water consumed, and the amount of lead in the water. Children may also be exposed to other significant sources of lead including paint, soil and dust. Since blood lead testing is the only way to determine a child’s blood lead level, parents should discuss their child’s health history with their child’s physician to determine if blood lead testing is appropriate. Pregnant women or women of childbearing age should also consider discussing this matter with their physician.
Additional Resources
For more information regarding the testing program or sampling results,
contact Onteora School District Buildings and Grounds Department at 845-657-6384, or go to our school website: http://www.onteora.k12.ny.us
For information about lead in school drinking water, go to:
http://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 Department of Health Lead Poisoning Prevention, 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).