Lead in Drinking Water Compliance

In compliance with the requirements of law and Title 10, Subpart 67-4 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations, water outlets that could potentially be used for cooking or drinking (potable outlets) must be tested for the presence of lead at a minimum every five years. Where a potable outlet is determined to have lead levels above (>) 15 parts per billion (ppb), the New York State action level, the District is required to (1) discontinue use of the outlet; (2) implement a lead remediation plan to mitigate the lead level; and (3) provide building occupants with an adequate alternate supply of water for cooking and drinking. The following procedures will be followed to ensure that non-potable outlets and potable outlets that exceed the State action level (and, therefore are deemed as non-potable) until remediated and made safe for consumption, are not used for consumption.

Procedures for Non-Potable Outlets

• Water outlets (including but not limited to bubblers, drinking fountain or faucets) with lead levels above the State action level: Any such outlet must be taken out of service or turned off. A placard reading Not for Drinking Use should be placed at a location near the outlet that is visible to anyone who may attempt to use the outlet.
• Custodial Sinks: The District’s custodial staff will be informed in writing that water from utility/curb sinks in custodial closets is never to be used for consumption. Closets will be locked at all times and access to these areas will be restricted to custodial and maintenance personnel. They will be placarded to read Not for Drinking Use.
• Classroom Laboratory Outlets and Associated Prep Rooms: Any outlet that is designated for a classroom laboratory or associated prep room (i.e. faucets, hose bibs and spigots) will have an adjacent placard reading Not for Drinking Use. Teachers in laboratory classrooms and prep rooms with such water outlets must also provide written instruction to students annually (or at the beginning of every semester if there are new students), indicating there is to be no drinking from any of these fixtures. All students must be supervised at all times while in a laboratory or prep room.
• Art Room Sinks: All art room outlets will no longer be used for cooking or drinking. Placarding, training and communication that outlets are not to be used for these purposes will be implemented.
• Bathroom Sinks: Bathroom outlets will no longer be used for cooking or drinking. Placarding, training and communication that outlets are not to be used for these purposes will be implemented.
• Outside Hose Bibs/Spigots: Hose bibs and spigots that cannot be adequately secured will be permanently taken out of service. The remaining fixtures will be locked out with a hose bib lock and only employees of the District’s Buildings and Grounds Department will have access to them. Employees will be instructed in writing that water from these fixtures is never to be used for consumption.
• Eye Wash Stations: All agency eye wash stations are never to be used for consumption. Teachers in rooms where these stations are located must provide written instruction to students annually (or at the beginning of every semester if there are new students) indicating there is to be no drinking from any of these fixtures. They will be placarded to read Not for Drinking Use.

Testing Results and Remediation Actions for SOCSD Schools

Listed below is all data from water testing that was performed in the district in Spring 2021. To make it easier to decipher, spreadsheets have been developed. The actual laboratory reports have not been posted, but are available to anyone upon request; they will be kept in the SOCSD Facilities Office. As new information becomes available (i.e. any repaired outlets or resampling data) it will be posted accordingly.

William O. Schaefer Elementary School
Cottage Lane Elementary School
South Orangetown Middle School
Tappan Zee High School
Palisades School (former Palisades Elementary School)
Tappan Zee Education Center (former Tappan Zee Elementary School)

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view forms posted above in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) and may be downloaded free from the Adobe website. Unable to access the forms? Please contact MaryEllen DeVillers in the Safety Office via email (mdevillers@socsd.org) or by calling (845) 680-1803 for assistance.

Additional Information and Resources

NYSED | New York State Department of Health Letter to Superintendents of Public Schools (August 29, 2016):
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/docs/lead_testing_initial_guidance_memo_schools_8-29-16.pdf