{"id":3375,"date":"2026-09-28T08:33:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T12:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/?p=3375"},"modified":"2026-09-28T08:33:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T12:33:30","slug":"ny-should-get-the-lead-out-of-schools-drinking-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/ny-should-get-the-lead-out-of-schools-drinking-water\/","title":{"rendered":"NY Should Get the Lead Out of Schools\u2019 Drinking Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve known since ancient times<\/a> that exposure to lead is a public health threat<\/a>.\u00a0 Aging infrastructure, old paint in buildings, emissions from cars, and, sadly, drinking water, have all been sources of lead exposure in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But exposure to lead is of particular concern when it comes to children<\/a>.  Their growing bodies act as a sponge when it comes to lead.  Lead found in drinking water, particularly in schools, is an especially pernicious threat.  There is no safe<\/em><\/u> level<\/u><\/a> of exposure to lead.  As a result, it is of critical importance that we eliminate as many sources of exposure as possible.  The well documented social costs of childhood lead poisoning include learning impairments, behavioral problems, lost IQ points and a range of serious physical ailments.  Prevention is the most efficient and effective response to the presence of lead in a child\u2019s environment. Yet, as millions of children went back to school this month, they are in danger of being exposed to lead when they drink water at schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One decade ago, New York took its first steps in combating the threat of lead drinking water in the state\u2019s school buildings.  In 2016, a law<\/a> was enacted that required K-12 schools to test for lead in drinking water supplies and if levels were found to exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb), remediation was required.  In 2021, that level was dropped to 5 ppb and all public and charter schools are required<\/a> to test every drinking water outlet at least once every three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, state data shows that it is urgent to move beyond testing<\/em> and instead move toward prevention<\/em>.  In a report<\/a> examining the most recent test results available from the state Health Department, New York\u2019s lead drinking water testing results were closely examined and the conclusions are stunning<\/em>.  Despite ten years of \u201ctesting and fixing,\u201d the new report showed that lead contamination in school drinking water from Montauk to Buffalo remains common.  The state data shows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n