The findings come after New York lowered the allowable limit for lead in school drinking water from 15 parts per billion to five parts per billion in 2022.
Under the stricter standard, more than 40 school districts in Suffolk County and more than 20 in Nassau County tested above the legal threshold, according to the New York State Department of Health.
Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children and can cause serious health effects, including slowed growth and developmental delays, health officials warn.
The scope of the findings has raised concerns because the tests were conducted in school buildings where students and staff consume water daily.
Under state regulations, any school that records lead levels above the legal limit must immediately shut down the affected water outlets, provide free alternative drinking water, implement a remediation plan, and conduct follow-up testing to ensure the problem has been resolved, according to the Health Department.
The state emphasized that a positive test does not mean all water in a school building is unsafe, but rather that specific outlets exceeded the allowable limit and require corrective action.
School Districts With Positive Lead Tests
According to the New York State Department of Health, the following Long Island school districts reported lead levels above the state’s current limit:
Nassau County
- Baldwin
- Bethpage
- Cold Spring Harbor
- Freeport
- Great Neck
- Hempstead
- Herricks
- Hewlett-Woodmere
- Hicksville
- Island Park
- Long Beach City
- Lynbrook
- Malverne
- Manhassat
- Massapequa
- Merrick
- North Bellmore
- North Shore
- Plainview–Old Bethpage
- Port Washington
- Seaford
- Syosset
- Uniondale
- Valley Stream
- Westbury
Suffolk County
- Amagansett
- Babylon
- Bay Shore
- Brentwood
- Brookhaven–Comsewogue
- Center Moriches
- Central Islip
- Cold Spring Harbor
- Commack
- Connetquot
- Copiague
- East Hampton
- East Islip
- East Moriches
- East Moriches
- Fire Island
- Greenport
- Hampton Bays
- Harborfields
- Hauppauge
- Huntington
- Islip
- Kings Park
- Lindenhurst
- Longwood
- Middle Country
- Montauk
- North Babylon
- Northport
- Patchogue–Medford
- Quogue
- Riverhead
- Sachem
- Sayville
- South Country
- South Huntington
- Southampton
- Southold
- Three Village
- Wainscott
- Westhampton Beach
- William Floyd
State officials said school districts are required to notify parents and guardians when elevated lead levels are detected and to document remediation efforts.
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