New York lowered the lead-testing limit from 15 ppb to 5 ppb in 2023, causing more fixtures to be flagged as unsafe during routine testing.

A state report finds that 34% of public school buildings statewide exceed the new 5 ppb lead limit, affecting 1,642 buildings and including 308 on Long Island.

The issue is portrayed as widespread, not isolated to one district, signaling a systemic challenge with aging school infrastructure and lead piping or solder.

Officials and advocates warn that lead exposure harms brain and nervous system development, stressing the need to protect children.

Parents are taking precautions by sending water bottles to school and using alternatives when fountains are out of service, while districts must provide free water access to students.

When a fixture exceeds the limit, districts must immediately notify staff and parents and remove the fixture from service.

Superintendent Paul Defendini of Farmingdale says they will shut off all drinking water stations as part of an upgrade, signaling a broader move to replace aging infrastructure.

Long Island districts, including Farmingdale, are replacing old drinking water stations with filtered bottle-filling stations and providing alternative water sources during the upgrade.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, via Maureen Murphy, supports proactive removal of lead fixtures and emphasizes the dangers of lead exposure to children.

The effort includes a plan to rapidly remove lead fixtures and accelerate replacement as part of addressing the broader infrastructure issue.