Niskayuna

www.niskyschools.org

Cosimo Tangorra, Jr., Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools
1239 Van Antwerp Road
Niskayuna, NY 12309
ctangorra@niskyschools.org
Phone: (518) 377-4666, Ext. 50706
Fax: (518) 377-4074

May 11, 2016

Dear Parents:
The purpose of this letter is to let you know about some action that we are taking in response to recent
water testing that was done at Glencliff.
Two sources of water were tested. While results for a drinking water fountain were well within normal
ranges, the tests showed an elevated level of lead for a faucet in the schools kitchen on the first draw
which means without letting the water run at all prior to taking the sample. A subsequent sample taken
after the water ran for two minutes showed levels that were well within the acceptable limit established by
the Environmental Protection Agency. Most water comes out of the faucet after it has been running.
The results were received yesterday, Tuesday, May 10, and the district took immediate action. All sources
of water for cooking and drinking at Glencliff have been taken offline, and will remain that way until lead
levels are confirmed to be below the EPA limit. In the meantime, bottled water will be available to all
students for drinking and will be used for cooking. Please note that hand washing is safe.
The kitchen faucet is being replaced, and all water sources in the building will be tested by the end of this
week, with results expected early next week.
Additionally, water testing is being scheduled at every school in the district for the near future. The
heightened awareness on the issue of water quality in our state and across the country prompted some
inquiries in our community, and we initiated the testing at Glencliff. We are committed to ensuring that
the water children consume in school is safe, and testing is the way to be proactive in this area.
Glencliff staff members talked with students about this issue today in an age-appropriate manner,
explaining that the school district has conducted some tests of the water system and wants to be sure that
the water at school is safe for them.
This is not a public water supply issue, as all public water supplies are subject to regular water quality
testing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lead enters drinking water primarily as a
result of eroding materials containing lead in the water distribution system, including faucets, fittings and
pipes. This is why our immediate steps include replacing the kitchen faucet at Glencliff.
We have been in contact with the Department of Health on this issue. The end of this letter contains more
information about lead levels and drinking water, including the Glencliff results.
While we know that this information may cause some concern, we are taking the necessary steps to
address the situation and confirm the safety of water throughout the district. There is nothing that we take
more seriously than the well-being of our students.

We will keep you informed about this issue. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,

Cosimo Tangorra, Jr., Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD AND DRINKING WATER IN SCHOOLS

Adapted from the New York Department of Health Website, (https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2508/)
and the Environmental Protection Agency's "3 T's for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools"
(www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/toolkit_leadschools_guide_3ts_leadschools.pdf)
The initial results at Glencliff
In July of 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an action level for lead in
public drinking water at 15 micrograms per liter. The first draw sample for the kitchen faucet at Glencliff
showed 64.8 micrograms per liter. After the water was running for a couple minutes - replicating the
conditions at which most water comes out of that tap the level was 1.5 micrograms per liter, which is
well within the EPA limit. The level for the initial draw from the water fountain outside of the gym was
7.0 micrograms per liter, which fell to 1.9 after it ran for a couple minutes.
More information about laboratory results
If the results higher than the EPA level are for what is called a "first draw" sample, these probably
represent what was sitting in the pipes overnight and the best action is probably to run the water until it is
cold before using it. If you have results from a "flush" sample, they are likely to represent what you would
be drinking; the proper response to an elevated level in that case would be to identify and remove the lead
source or treat the water. The results for the Glencliff flush sample were well below the EPA limit.
How lead enters our water
Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies
like groundwater, rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or
wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and in building plumbing.
These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass, and chrome-plated brass
faucets. In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted
the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials. However, even the lead in plumbing
materials meeting these new requirements is subject to corrosion.
Lead in drinking water and your child
According to the EPA, lead in drinking water is rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning. The level in the
faucet at Glencliff was well below the EPA action level after running for a couple of minutes. The sample
that was above this level was the first water to come out of the tap at the start of the day, after sitting
overnight. Nearly all of the water that is used from this faucet comes out during the day after it has been
running, which would minimize any exposure. However, parents who are concerned may wish to discuss
this with their family physician.