Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist Ithaca schools after some of its drinking water tested positive for elevated lead levels.
Water results for two of Ithaca's schools earlier this year found that several fountains in the Caroline and Enfield elementary schools tested much higher than the acceptable level of 15 parts per billion - including one fountain that had 190 parts per billion. Lead poisoning can cause developmental disabilities in children and even result in death.
Ithacashut off all of the district's drinking water and they have been dispersing bottled water since Feb. 17. And, they are also expanding their tests to all district facilities, something with which Schumer said the EPA should help.
"Lead poisoning is an irreversible tragedy, but it’s a preventable tragedy," Schumer said. "In other words, once the kids have it, there’s not much we can do, but we can prevent future kids from having it."
Schumer wants the EPA to send inspectors to Ithaca to help find the problem and aid local officials on remediation. State and county health departments are already working with the school district. Tompkins County Health Department spokesperson Theresa Lyczko said more than 70 Ithaca children have been examined in the last month for lead poisoning, but none have tested positive. Lyczko said that is consistent with the county's record.
"The most important thing about this is for parents to realize that there is no history in Tompkins County of any children with elevated blood lead levels from drinking water ever in this county," Lyczko said.
The Ithaca school district superintendent declined our interview request.
