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East Ramapo: Elevated lead levels in 9 buildings

Just days before school starts, the district becomes Rockland's last to reveal lead testing results

Robert Brum
rbrum@lohud.com
The Mamaroneck school district has shut off 54 water outlets after recent tests showed high levels of lead.

A week before students return to class, the East Ramapo school district has revealed that elevated levels of lead were found in at least nine of its buildings.

East Ramapo, the last of Rockland's eight public school districts to release its testing results, did not specify which of its buildings tested over the federal limit or release figures specifying how far above the limit any site had tested.

Water fountains, kitchen faucets, nurses' room faucets and any other faucet typically used for either cooking, drinking or making coffee have been shut off in those buildings, according to the district.

Purified water dispensaries were being installed in the affected building. Signs in English, Spanish, Creole and Yiddish have been put up explaining the situation.

Faucets in kitchens that would affect operation of the school have been changed, according to a letter from Eisenbach and Ruhnke Engineering of Utica, New York, that was posted on the district's website. Bathroom faucets will not be replaced but signs will remain in place telling students not to drink the water.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rockland: What's next after all those lead tests?

The engineering firm's letter dated Aug. 31 stated that elevated levels were found in nine buildings, but did not name them. Results from the remaining buildings were to be received by today, according to the firm.

School starts Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Testing on all 18 of East Ramapo's buildings began in the summer rather than spring or fall to avoid interrupting classes, according to a district spokesman.

A statement from Schools Superintendent Deborah Wortham said the district would be replacing and retesting all the faucets before they would be put back into use.

East Ramapo Schools
Superintendent Deborah Wortham and Board President Yehudah Weissmandl listen to an auditors report on the school budget during a board meeting at Ramapo High School

Wortham noted the testing was done in accordance with a new state law, which mandates such testing for all school buildings. She said the problem is due most likely to antiquated pipes and other aging infrastructure.

The district is also working with Rockland County BOCES to rectify the problem.

Public school districts began testing in the spring after reports of lead in the water supplies in Flint, Michigan, and the Newark, New Jersey, schools.

In April, Rockland BOCES began testing its own facilities and all the county's public school districts except Clarkstown and Pearl River, which used outside contractors to test last spring, according to John Gulino, BOCES director of health and safety. Most districts finished testing before school ended in June.

BOCES did followup testing in seven districts as well as its own facilities over the summer. Remediation is winding down in all of those districts, Gulino said.

East Ramapo first contacted BOCES around June 1 and testing began June 11.

Spring Valley NAACP activist Oscar Cohen said Thursday that he was frustrated with the timing of the results but relieved the district had finally responded to the problem.

"Notwithstanding that all the other Rockland districts had their testing for lead and water done by June 2016, we are relieved they finally have been able to retain a reputable company and the children will not be coming back exposed to contaminated water," Cohen said.

David Curry, who has a son in the sixth grade at the district's Kakiat Elementary School, said he would be sending him to school with a water bottle.

"They run at their own pace," Curry said of East Ramapo, "and I don't think there's a great deal of concern about what the public wants them to do."

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