Schools around the state are working diligently to comply with new, more stringent lead standards that will make school drinking water even safer for students, educators and others who spend time in school buildings.
NYSUT Health and Safety has created a fact sheet to help schools familiarize themselves with required sampling, remediation, reporting and record-keeping requirements; review the state Department of Health’s resources on the topic; and recommit to ensuring their drinking water meets the state’s new, safer standards. The fact sheet includes definitions of key terms, links to related DOH resources, and frequently asked questions on the topic.
Lead is a known toxin that has the potential to affect multiple organ systems in the body. It can be especially harmful to children, whose neurological systems are still developing. Elevated lead levels in children often stem from exposure to chipped or peeling lead paint, especially in older homes, but can also happen due to consumption of lead-contaminated water. Lead gets into drinking water as lead pipes, fixtures, and the solder used to connect pipes corrode over time.
This is of greatest concern in older buildings — including schools — built before 1986, when the federal Safe Drinking Water Act was amended to prohibit the use of materials in plumbing that were not “lead free.” That amendment significantly decreased the risk of lead contamination in drinking water for new buildings, but it did not address the risk in existing buildings. For that reason, schools across New York have long been required to test their drinking water regularly for lead.
Until recently, New York’s “action level” for lead in drinking water — the level at which a school is required to undertake remediation, including repair of pipes and fixtures — was 15 parts per billion, which aligned with federal regulations for school drinking water.
In December 2022, New York revised the public health law governing school potable water standards and testing to reduce the action level for lead from 15 ppb to 5 ppb. Schools were required to test using the new threshold during a three-year compliance period that ended Dec. 22, 2025. The updated law also removed previous exemptions for some buildings previously considered “lead free,” and instituted new requirements for reporting test results to the public and providing alternative water sources free of charge when drinking water outlets are taken out of service.
“Schools around the state are adjusting to these new regulations and the procedures and requirements that come along with them,” said Ron Gross, NYSUT’s second vice president. “Our members are taking action to ensure their drinking water is safe for students and all who pass through their buildings. It’s beneficial for the whole school community.”
NYSUT’s Program Services Department is available to provide support to members and answer questions that come up as they work through this important process, said Gross.