Radium Detected In Groundwater Under Bethpage High School

Bethpage High School will be testing for radium once again after detecting elevated levels of the chemical during a test last month.

According to a letter from Superintendent of Bethpage Schools Terrence Clark, the school district did extensive environmental testing inside and outside the schools due to the proximity to the Grumman-Navy plume.

The district used an independent environmental firm, J.C. Broderick and Associates, to conduct the tests.

Recently, the firm tested groundwater at Bethpage High School for radium after the chemical had been detected in another part of Bethpage by the Bethpage Water District.

The results, which were shared at the public Board of Education meeting on May 30, showed the groundwater is 60 feet below surface and radium was detected.

The district arranged a meeting with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) who tested for radon at Bethpage High School.

The DEC is currently reviewing the report and the results.

According to the DEC there was no immediate health threat to students and staff since the groundwater is 60 feet below surface and no one is coming into contact with the groundwater.

All drinking water in Bethpage comes from the Bethpage Water District.

"The Board of Education has been actively engaged on this issue for several years and has authorized testing that goes far beyond what is typical of a school district," Clark wrote in the letter. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our students and staff and the results to date have demonstrated we have no immediate health concerns in any of our schools."