The Rochester City School District says it has completed its testing for lead in water in all school buildings and district facilities. Officials say results show that about 19 percent of drinking water fixtures showed lead levels above an EPA threshold for schools and child care centers.
In early August, initial tests had showed 11 percent of water fixtures in 22 schools had been above the EPA threshold.
The district says that over the summer, it replaced all fixtures that had lead levels above the safety guideline.
Final results show that of the district’s 49 buildings, 426 fixtures out of more than 2,200 had lead levels above the EPA number.
In a letter that was sent to parents, the district notes that both the state and Monroe County health departments have advised that school drinking water is not a significant source of lead.
They point out that the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning says that paint in older homes and renovation projects that do not follow lead-safe work practices are the main sources for childhood lead poisoning
