Rensselaer City School District

In September 2016, a state law went into effect that requires all public school districts in New York to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students, and to submit those samples to a state-approved lab for analysis. Regulations called for testing to take place in 2020 and every five years thereafter, unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner.

In accordance with the law, the Rensselaer City School District conducts water testing at all buildings. Testing results will be posted on this page as they become available.

The state established an action level of 15 micrograms of lead per liter, typically referred to as “parts per billion (ppb).” If a sample from a water outlet exceeds this level, schools must take steps to prevent the use of the outlet for drinking or cooking purposes until it is remediated and follow-up testing confirms it is no longer above the action level.

School districts are required to report the results of all water testing to the state Department of Health, the state Education Department and the local health department, and to post the results — along with remediation plans, if required — on the official district website.

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority within our school system. We are committed to ensuring safe drinking water for all of our students and staff.

New York State Department of Health Regulations for Water Testing