January 5, 2025
Dear Families,
At Chatham Central School District, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff. New York State requires schools to test their drinking water for lead every three years. Our District conducted water sampling in late November 2025 and received the lab results at the end of December. The results showed several water outlets with lead levels at or above the NYS Department of Health’s limit of five parts per billion (0.005 mg/L).
Understanding the New Standards
It is important to note that the state has recently lowered its "action level" for lead in drinking water from 15 ppb to 5 ppb. Due to these more stringent standards, several drinking fountains and sink faucets in our elementary, middle, and high schools that passed in previous years now require mitigation. Some kitchen equipment at the elementary school will also need to be addressed.
Actions We Have Taken
To ensure the immediate safety of our school community, we have taken the following steps:
Outlets Taken Out of Service: Any drinking fountains or kitchen equipment that tested at or above the 5 ppb limit have been shut off.
Bottled Water Provided: We are providing students and staff with bottled water where needed.
Signage: For sinks that tested above the limit, we have placed clear signage indicating the water is for handwashing only.
How Testing Was Conducted
A certified water testing agency sampled 179 water outlets across the District, including fountains, sinks, and kitchen equipment. All water samples were taken "first draw," meaning samples were taken first thing in the morning after the water had sat in the pipes and fixtures for at least eight hours. This captures lead levels at their highest potential point.
Once water is run for a short time, levels typically drop significantly. Chatham CSD receives its water from the Village of Chatham’s municipal system, which undergoes regular testing and is deemed safe.
Next Steps
Our next step is to develop and implement a remediation plan to address the specific fixtures identified in this round of testing. This may include replacing fixtures, installing filters, or permanent removal of certain outlets.This plan will be posted on our website with regular updates.
Complete reports of our water testing results are available on our website at: https://www.chathamcentralschools.com/page/water-testing-remediation
If you have questions or concerns, please contact my office.
Sincerely,
Andrew Kourt
Superintendent of Schools