Breaking down data about lead in NYC schools

The Department of Education recently released the results of water quality tests in all of New York City’s schools. The data show 83 percent of school buildings have at least one water fixture with elevated lead levels.

The DOE tested 132,276 fixtures — everything from water fountains and bathroom faucets to ice makers and slop sinks. Eight percent showed unsafe levels of lead.

Lead was found around the city, although the most contaminated fixtures were found in parts of Brooklyn.

Percentage of water fixtures showing elevated lead levels, by NYC geographic district

A single school in Brooklyn — the William E. Grady Career and Technical Education High School in Brighton Beach — had 101 elevated results, the most of any school in the city. Three of the samples at Grady High School showed lead levels above 10,000 parts per billion, more than 600 times the maximum safe level for drinking water of 15 parts per billion. When water contains more than 5,000 parts per billion of lead, the EPA considers it to be hazardous waste.

Lead can be toxic, and health officials say even at low levels, it can cause problems, especially in children. It can damage young brains and nerves. It can result in learning problems, behavioral issues, hearing loss, seizures, hyperactivity and more.

Contamination was primarily found in hand washing sinks and water fountains.

Twenty-two fixtures tested worse than the most serious lead contamination found in Flint, Michigan. In Flint, the worst contamination found was approximately 13,200 parts per billion. The worst fixture in a New York City school had lead levels of 87,300 parts per billion. The table below shows the 10 worst test results across the city:

 

School	Lead level (ppb)	Room type	Borough
P.S. 723 – BRONX	87,300	Classroom	Bronx
WILLIAM E. GRADY VOC HS – K	62,200	Classroom	Brooklyn
WILLIAM E. GRADY VOC HS – K	41,500	Classroom	Brooklyn
HS FOR ARTS AND BUS. (OL NUTN X)-Q	39,000	Bathroom	Queens
WILLIAM E. GRADY VOC HS – K	35,300	Classroom	Brooklyn
P.S. 224 ANNEX – QUEENS	33,440	Classroom	Queens
I.S. 27 – STATEN ISLAND	32,500	Classroom	Staten Island
P.S. 139 – BROOKLYN	31,000	Bathroom	Brooklyn
P.S. 111 – MANHATTAN	27,400	Kitchen	Manhattan
P.S. 151 – BROOKLYN	23,200	Bathroom	Brooklyn

The largest percentage of contaminated faucets were found in classrooms.

Read our editorial about lead levels in New York City schools.

You can search for test results at individual schools (and download the DOE’s complete database) by clicking here.

Produced by Sam Guzik and Randi Marshall
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