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High School Lead Results December 2016 Letter

December 2, 2016

Dear members of the Fort Plain community,

As you may be aware, on Sept. 6, 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a new law that requires public schools in New York State to test for lead in all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking.

I write to inform you about the results of water testing completed at Fort Plain Junior-Senior High School. Results from water testing completed at the school are posted on the district website at www.fortplain.org.

Fulmont Laboratories collected “first draw” samples -meaning the water outlet had not been used for a minimum of eight hours -from 107 faucets and drinking fountains at the Junior­ Senior High School on October 5, 2016. Of those samples, 22 were found to contain lead levels that exceed the state’s action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). We received the results on Thursday, December 1. The outlets that these samples were drawn from have been marked with signage indicating that the outlet is not to be used for drinking water.

The identified outlets were primarily maintenance-related or faucets used in science classrooms. One restroom sink also tested above the state’s action level. These outlets are rarely if ever, used by students or staff for drinking. All hallway drinking fountains were well below the state’s action level of  15 pruis per billion (ppb).

In the coming days, we will initiate the recommended procedures for re-testing and remediation. Please be assured that all outlets that tested above the state’s level have been marked with appropriate signage indicating that they may not be used for drinking until re-testing and remediation have been completed.

We take these findings very seriously and will work with our architects and engineers to ensure that we provide safe, healthy drinking water for our students and staff. Visit our website, www.fortplain.org for information about the risks associated with lead, as well as complete test results. If you have any questions or concerns about these test results or the steps the district is taking to address this issue, please contact my office at 993-4000,    #1000.

Sincerely,

 

David Ziskin

Superintendent  of Schools