Lead Contamination Found in Drinking Water at Dozens of Long Island School Districts
Dozens of school districts across Long Island have recorded elevated lead levels in their drinking water this year, raising concerns for student safety as the state enforces stricter testing standards.
The New York State Department of Health recently issued updated data showing that more than 40 school districts in Suffolk County and more than 20 in Nassau County had samples that exceeded the new acceptable lead threshold. The findings come after the state lowered the action level for lead in school drinking water from 15 parts per billion to 5 parts per billion in 2022.
In response to the alarming data, the state requires any school testing above the legal limit to immediately shut down contaminated outlets, provide free alternative drinking water, implement a remediation action plan, and conduct follow-up testing to ensure compliance.
The newly released figures initially suggested that Connetquot High School had 70 positive samples for lead, prompting concern among parents and community members. However, Connetquot Superintendent Joseph Tanen Centamore disputed the numbers in a letter to the community, stating there was an error in the state’s database.
“I am writing to address a recent media report regarding lead levels in the drinking water at Connetquot High School,” Centamore wrote. “The information shared in that news story is inaccurate, due to an error in the state’s publicly reported database. After becoming aware of the news report, the district immediately contacted state officials, who have acknowledged the error and are working to correct the mistake on their end.”
Centamore clarified that in the school’s most recent testing, 70 outlets were checked and only two showed elevated lead levels. “Those outlets were immediately taken out of service and remediated. They were then retested and the new samples were found to be within proper levels. To reiterate, at this time, all high school outlets are in full compliance, as are the outlets at our other school buildings,” the letter stated.
A spokesperson for the New York State Health Department confirmed the mistake and backed the district’s revised figures.
“The Connetquot Central School District’s website is correct – with two exceedances above the action level, not the 70 currently appearing on the State Health Department’s website,” the spokesperson said. “The discrepancy is due to a reporting error that has since been identified, and the Department is working to update our website.”
The department further noted that any exceedance must be reported to the local health department, which then relays the information to the State Department of Health. “The two exceedances were properly reported to the local health department, and appropriate steps were taken to remove the impacted outlets from service until remediation could be completed,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, other districts on Long Island are also addressing the issue. Last week, the Farmingdale School District issued a notice to parents after elevated lead levels were detected in several school buildings.
Lead in drinking water poses significant health risks, particularly for children. Exposure to lead can result in developmental delays and other serious health concerns, making the statewide findings particularly troubling for families and school officials alike.
The school districts in Nassau County that were identified with positive tests under the new lead standards include Baldwin, Bethpage, Cold Spring Harbor, Freeport, Great Neck, Hempstead, Hewlett-Woodmere, Hicksville, Island Park, Lynbrook, Malverne, Massapequa, North Bellmore, North Shore, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Port Washington, Syosset, Uniondale, Valley Stream, and Westbury.
In Suffolk County, impacted districts include Amagansett, Babylon, Bay Shore, BOCES, Brentwood, Center Moriches, Central Islip, Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Comsewogue, Connetquot, Copiague, East Hampton, East Islip, Eastport, Fire Island, Greenport, Hampton Bays, Harborfields, Hauppauge, Huntington, Islip, Kings Park, Lindenhurst, Longwood, Middle Country, North Babylon, Northport, Patchogue-Medford, Quogue, Riverhead, Sachem, Sayville, South Country, South Huntington, Southampton, Southold, Three Village, Wainscot, Westhampton Beach, and William Floyd.
State health officials encourage concerned community members to refer directly to their school district’s website for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding water testing results.