Owego Apalachin (OA) conducted tests of every source of drinking and cooking water in the district’s four school buildings, as well as in the transportation facility. The results were reassuring.
The district contacted Michele Casale, environmental health and safety hygienist for Broome-Tioga BOCES, to investigate OA drinking water sources for lead and copper content. Within any school there are many sources supplying water. Within OA’s four school buildings, 52 sample locations were used.
“First Draw” drinking water samples were collected early in the morning on March 1, before the buildings were open. Each sample was sent to New York State certified EnviroTest Laboratories, Inc., of Newburgh, to be analyzed.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined limits for both lead and copper levels in drinking water. The level of lead should not exceed 15 ppb (parts per billion). The copper level should not exceed 1.3 mg/L (milligrams per Liter).
The results were as follows.
Owego Free Academy – All sample results for lead and copper were well below the EPA limits.
Owego Apalachin Middle School – All sample results for lead and copper were well below the EPA limits.
Owego Elementary School – All sample results for lead and copper were well below the EPA limits.
Owego Apalachin Transportation Facility – All sample results for lead and copper were well below the EPA limits.
Apalachin Elementary School – All but one of the sample results for lead and copper are well below the EPA limits. The one exception, a fountain located in the AES cafeteria, contained elevated levels of lead. However, this fountain had not been in service for approximately eight years (it had been shut off at the main source). Because of that non-use, the water in the pipes was stagnant when tested. The fountain has since been removed.
In 75 percent of the OA samples, levels of lead detected in OA’s testing came in less than 1 ppb, or more than 14 ppb below the EPA’s limit of 15 ppb. The remainder was well below the 15 ppb standard.
All of the OA samples showed levels of copper safely below the EPA’s limit of 1.3 mg/L.
