Three water sources inside Voorheesville Elementary School have been shut down after testing showed high levels of lead.
The results come a week after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law on water testing in schools. The school district is working to find out what’s causing the contamination.
Voorheesville Superintendent Brian Hunt says he was alarmed to learn a kitchen faucet in Voorheesville Elementary School has lead levels far exceeding the state limit.
“I have to say the kitchen sink reading was the biggest shock,” said Hunt. "It was well above state standard, very high reading and we were very concerned about that right from the beginning."
The kitchen faucet, used to fill water jugs for after-school programs, showed lead levels of 1,800 parts per billion. Schools have to cut off any water source with levels above 15 parts per billion.
“We need to do everything we can to get to the bottom of this, because it is the safety of our students and our staff that’s the most important thing,” said Hunt.
The Albany County Health Department said the result was so high it may have been an error, so they advised the district to test again. A second sample showed lead levels of 822 parts per billion. A classroom sink and transportation office sink showed levels slightly above 15 parts per billion.
In a written statement, Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen said, “The ACDOH has sent out a field team to learn more about how the testing was performed at Voorheesville and is gathering information that could shed more light on potential risk to students.”
“We need to get this all resolved as quickly and as efficiently as we can,” said Hunt.
Cuomo signed a bill last week requiring all New York schools test for lead, release results, and develop plans to fix problems. Elementary schools have until the end of the month to test all water sources. Middle and high schools have until the end of October.
Under the law, school districts will be reimbursed for all testing and remediation.
“It is putting the pressure on us to get it done so quickly. I do think there will be quite a few school districts that will run into issues with this,” said Hunt.
The district is offering free blood testing to students and staff that may have drank the water and is hosting a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss test results with parents. A representative from the Albany County Health Department is expected to be on hand to answer questions.
“We’ll have them ask all the questions they want to ask, and we’ll explain everything as well as we can,” said Hunt.