The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hoosick Falls District Has 22 Taps Above The 15 ppb Threshold

By

HFCS release
The Hoosick Falls Central School took a total of 270 water samples on September 24 building-wide from classroom sinks, drinking fountains, and other taps, to be tested for lead levels in the water. The samples were collected by BOCES under the supervision of Paul Baker, the HFCSD Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds.[private]
Results of testing lead in the water in the school building were returned to the school district by New Jersey Analytical Laboratories on November 17.
Of the 128 samples taken at the Hoosick Falls Elementary School, only one sample returned a result that was above the EPA threshold of 15 parts per billion. The location was a drinking fountain in a computer lab. Upon receipt of the results, the fountain was immediately disconnected. Over the next several weeks, the district will be developing and implementing a remediation plan that will determine what other actions will be taken.
Of 142 samples taken at Hoosick Falls Jr. / Sr. High School, 21 samples came back above the threshold. NONE of the locations above the threshold are used for food preparation nor drinking fountains.
The locations that exceeded the lead threshold for potable water were:
• sinks that are located in science labs and science classrooms
• sinks in one of the girl’s bathrooms
• One other location tested above the threshold: an exterior spigot outside loading dock has been used for filling water bottles and water coolers.
If lead levels are detected above 15 parts per billion, the school must discontinue use of that tap for drinking water, implement a lead remediation plan and provide building occupants with an alternate water supply for cooking and drinking.
In cases where a water tap failed the lead test, it is shut off and not used
The District’s Remediation Plan:
The fountain that was above the threshold in the elementary school has been removed
The spigot outside has had the handle removed from valve so that it may not be used
Stickers will be placed on sinks in the high school that are above the threshold, indicating that the water is not safe to drink
We will continue testing on a regular basis
The full test results document is available on the District web site at hoosickfallscsd.org, as is a question and answer document from the New York State Health Department about lead in drinking water.[/private]