Lead Found in Water Fountains at Valley Stream Elementary School

VALLEY STREAM, NY - A Valley Stream elementary school was recently discovered to have four drinking fountains that failed to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) standards for lead in drinking water, according to the school district.

Over the spring recess, the district conducted testing for lead in all four elementary schools, but only Wheeler Avenue Elementary School required further review, according to a letter from superintendent for Valley Stream School District 13, Constance Evelyn.

The fountains that tested on the "low end" of the EPA guidelines for schools are located at:

• Left of the staff bathroom on the first floor
• Room 102
• Room 203
• By the library

The four fountains have been shut off and will be replaced, according to the letter.

The school is also planning on doing additional tests on the other fountains in the school and will have the custodians flush out the fountains under the protocols implemented by the EPA to help solve the problem.

"As always the health and safety of our staff and students is our priority," Evelyn wrote in the letter. "We will keep the community fully informed as we comprehensively engage in the water testing process at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School."