Water and Lead Testing

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Resources Regarding Lead Testing at Schools

NYS became the first state in the nation to require all public schools and BOCES to test all sources of drinking water for lead on Sept. 6, 2016.

Under this law, in the fall of 2016, school districts were required to collect samples from water outlets used for drinking and cooking in any buildings that may be occupied by students and have the samples tested at a state certified laboratory. In December of 2022 the threshold for action was lowered from 15 parts per billion to 5 parts per billion, and the testing cycle was lowered from every 5 years to every 3 years.

• Lead Testing in School Drinking Water Program Guidance Manual (NYS Dept of Health)
• Lead Testing of School Drinking Water (NYS Dept of Health)
• GJSD Policy 5630 Facilities Inspection, Operation and Maintenance

Lead-free buildings

Lead-free, as defined by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, is based on the lead content of plumbing materials. Federal laws enacted in 1986 and updated in 2011, limit the amount of lead that can be used in new plumbing and fixtures. A building can be deemed lead-free if it was built after Jan. 4, 2014, or a New York State licensed professional engineer or architect certifies it to be lead-free. Under New York’s new law, school buildings designated as lead-free are no longer exempt from testing requirements.

Testing 2024

The Greater Johnstown School District recently took part in standard lead testing surveillance pursuant to NYS requirements. Any fixtures in the district found to be above the new lower threshold of 5 parts per Billion will remain out of service until a remediation plan is in place and further testing indicates that lead levels are below the action level.

As 2024 results become available, they will be posted below:

• Pleasant Avenue Elementary 2024 results
• Warren Street Elementary 2024 results
• Knox Middle School 2024 results
• Johnstown High School 2024 results
• Glebe Street 2024 results

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Testing 2020

In accordance with New York State public health and education law, The Greater Johnstown School District has begun sampling water outlets throughout the district. This testing is done every five years to identify any potable water outlets in a school building that exceed the state standard of action. Further information on the testing protocols, responses, and reporting can be found at Lead Testing in School Drinking Water 2020 Compliance Requirements. As results become available, they will be posted below.

Pleasant Avenue Elementary School 2020 results

On November 5, 2020 Fulmont Laboratories sampled 70 water outlets at Pleasant Avenue School.  Of those 70 outlets, only one fixture had a level of lead concentration above 15.0 parts per billion.  The faucet is located in the custodial office and is not publicly accessible. It has been clearly labeled “for hand washing only.”

Warren Street Elementary School 2020 results

On November 12, 2020 Fulmont Laboratory Sampled 66 water outlets at Warren Street School. Four outlets have been identified for remediation.  The right hand sink in room 33 and the sink in room 1 will be labeled for hand wash only until the fixtures can be replaced and retested.  The three bay sink faucet in the kitchen will be flushed daily before use until a new faucet can be installed and retested.  The sink bubbler in room 19 will be replaced and taken out of service until it can be retested.

Once these outlets have been replaced and retested, the results will be posted.  Should any have a test result above the action level again, further sampling will be done to try to determine the source of the lead with remediation to follow.

Warren Street 2020 results update

Six additional samples were drawn at Warren Street on 1/14/2021. The kitchen three bay sink faucet and sprayer have been replaced and results were below the action level. The sink in room 1 was replaced and it is now below the action level. The bubbler in room 19 was replaced and is still above the action level. The Bubbler in room 28 was tested for the first time and was found to be above the action level. These bubblers will be taken out of service and further sampling done to determine the source of contamination.

Johnstown Jr.-Sr. High School 2020 results

Results for the 45 water samples collected at Johnstown Junior Senior High School on November 19, 2020 are all under the action level. Fulton County Laboratories will return to sample any outlets that are currently shut down due to the pandemic.

The Knox Building 2020 results

The Knox Building was sampled on 1/14/2021 by Fulmont Laboratories. Of the 36 samples drawn, three are above the action level. The sink in room 4 will be labeled for hand wash only until it can be removed from service. A three-bay sink faucet, and a pot filler in the kitchen tested above the action level, likely due to lack of use. The kitchen is not being used so signs will be posted that if the water is needed from those outlets it should be flushed for a minimum of five minutes.

Glebe Street School 2020 results

Fulmont Laboratories sampled Glebe Street School on January 21, 2021. Of the 55 samples taken, three had a result above the action level. The sinks in rooms 18 and 19, as well as the bathroom sink in room 11, will be labeled for hand wash only until the fixtures can be replaced and retested.