8/17/2019 051616 Parentletter Watertest English Rev2

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May 17, 2016

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This letter is being sent to inform you about recent water quality testing completed in all schools inthe Greater Amsterdam School District.

Tests conducted at Barkley, Marie Curie and Tecler Elementary Schools showed an elevated level oflead in water samples from a variety of sources, including drinking fountains and combined sinkfaucets and drinking fountain units. No lead was found in water samples from the schools’ cafeteriasor kitchens.

School officials received the water test results after school on Thursday, May 12, and the district tookimmediate action. All affected sources of water used for drinking at Barkley, Marie Curie and Tecler

were immediately turned off, and will remain turned off until lead levels are confirmed to be below theacceptable limit established by the Environmental Protection Agency. In the meantime, bottled wateris available to all students and staff for drinking. Please note that it is safe to use hallway restrooms’  sink water for hand washing.

Follow-up testing is currently underway to determine where the lead is coming from, and those resultsare expected by early June. Any faucets, fitting or pipes that have been identified as a source of leadwill be replaced during the district’s $48.9 million capital project voters approved in March, which willaddress plumbing, electrical and mechanical system work.

While we wait for the test results to identify where the lead is coming from, we do know it is notcoming from the water itself, as all public water is subject to regular water quality testing. Accordingto the EPA, lead enters drinking water primarily from eroding materials that contain lead, includingfaucets, fittings and pipes.

According to the EPA, lead in drinking water is rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning. Parents who areconcerned may wish to speak with their family physician. For more information about lead levels anddrinking water, visit the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#health. 

Please be assured we are taking the necessary steps to address the situation and to ensure the safetyof drinking water throughout the district. We will keep you informed as we learn more about wherethe lead is coming from, and the steps we are taking to resolve the problem. In the meantime, we willcontinue to provide bottled water for drinking.

Please call me at (518) 843-3180 ext. 7801 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Thomas F. PerilloSuperintendent

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