Do you know what your kids are drinking?
According to newly released data by the New York State Health Department found that dozens of school districts across Long Island have recently found lead in their water.
The numbers come after the state lowered the acceptable amount of lead that can be in school drinking water from 15 parts per billion to five parts per billion.
In total, more than 40 school districts in Suffolk County and over 20 in Nassau County tested positive under the state's stricter limit, according to the state.
According to the data, all 70 samples taken at
Connetquot High School came back positive, but now the district is refuting those claims.
Connetquot Superintendent of Schools Joseph Tanen Centamore told News 12 that the state input the data incorrectly. He said 68 samples came back under the allowed level and the two out of compliance were taken offline, remediated and put back into service within 10 days.
News 12 has reached back out to the state health department for comment in response, but has not yet heard back.
Last week, the
Farmingdale School District notified parents that elevated lead levels were found in water at several school buildings there.
Lead in drinking water can pose serious health risks, like slowed development, especially in children, which makes the latest data from across Long Island that much more concerning.
According to the state, schools that test positive for lead above the legal limit must immediately shut down any contaminated drinking water, provide alternative water to consume free of charge, implement a remediation action plan and conduct post-remediation testing.
Long Island school districts with positive lead tests:
Nassau County
- Baldwin
- Bethpage
- Cold Spring Harbor
- Freeport
- Great Neck
- Hempstead
- Hewlett-Woodmere
- Hicksville
- Island Park
- Lynbrook
- Malverne
- Massapequa
- North Bellmore
- North Shore
- Plainview-Old Bethpage
- Port Washington
- Syosset
- Uniondale
- Valley Stream
- Westbury
Suffolk County
- Amagansett
- Babylon
- Bay Shore
- BOCES
- Brentwood
- Center Moriches
- Central Islip
- Cold Spring Harbor
- Commack
- Comsewogue
- Connetquot
- Copiague
- East Hampton
- East Islip
- Eastport
- Fire Island
- Greenport
- Hampton Bays
- Harborfields
- Hauppauge
- Huntington
- Islip
- Kings Park
- Lindenhurst
- Longwood
- Middle Country
- North Babylon
- Northport
- Patchogue-Medford
- Quogue
- Riverhead
- Sachem
- Sayville
- South Country
- South Huntington
- Southampton
- Southold
- Three Village
- Wainscot
- Westhampton Beach
- William Floyd