Lead Testing In Frewsburg Finds Samples Over Standard
Frewsburg Central Schools District recently released its state-mandated lead testing results from the Junior/Senior High School.
Out of 137 samples, 48 were found to exceed the state standard of 15 parts per billion.
Interim Superintendent Steve Vanstrom said if the fixtures are not on an identified list, the samples were under the 15 ppb limit.
“The federal limit is 25 parts per billion,” Vanstrom said. “To give you perspective, in Flint, Michigan, I believe it’s in the thousands. We’re nowhere near that level.”
Out of the 48 samples found to be above the state standard, 34 of them were not required for testing. These fixtures included slop sinks, hose bibs and other sinks.
Vanstrom said when the regulations were first put out, the district ordered that everything be tested.
“We actually only had one water fountain (above the limit) and it was a very old water fountain,” Vanstrom said. “Our results were pretty much typical of everyone else. We had one hose bib that tested extremely high, but we didn’t even know it was here. I was here when the building was built in 1976, and I don’t think it was ever used.”
Currently, the district is awaiting the elementary school testing to come back. When the results come in, Vanstrom said the district will do another round of reporting and notification unless all the fixtures are above the state standard.
When it comes to remedying the fixtures above the threshold, he said there are steps being taken. If the fixture was a drinking fountain, a bubbler, a classroom or office sink then it was turned off immediately. Kitchen fixtures were also turned off immediately, and another source was found. If the fixture was a lab sink, a custodial sink or another sink not used for drinking water, then a sign was posted that the water should not be used for drinking.
Vanstrom said after the proper adjustments were made, the fixtures will be retested. Once all the fixtures are retested and come back within the limit, the school won’t have to be tested again until 2020.
Overall, he said the results for area schools will probably continue to trickle in over the next few weeks. With a rush to get all the schools tested in a certain amount of time, Vanstrom said the labs were probably overwhelmed.
Looking at the district’s results, he said it is important to be aware of the state and federal levels. It is important to also note the district is nowhere near the levels of Flint, Michigan.
“While it is important we are monitoring this, it is important we don’t overreact as well,” Vanstrom said.
The results are available online at frewsburgcsd.org under news.
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