© 2024
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
An update has been released for the Android version of the WAMC App that addresses performance issues. Please check the Google Play Store to download and update to the latest version.

Report: 14 Percent Of NY School Taps Test Unsafe For Lead

a water drinking fountain
WAMC

Statewide testing for lead in drinking water at schools in New York has found 14 percent of outlets sampled in nearly 3,000 schools outside New York City had unsafe levels of the toxic metal.

Schools are required to turn off any outlet with lead levels above 15 parts per billion and implement plans to fix the problem. More than 256,000 taps were tested.

All schools have to test drinking water for lead under legislation signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in September.

The state Health Department said Friday that 96 percent of schools outside of New York City have done the testing and 88 percent have reported results. New York City results are expected in mid-2017.

Lead exposure can cause significant neurological impairments in children.

The lead testing data is posted on Health Data New York online.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Related Content