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Syracuse to preventively test schools' water for lead

Gregory Monroe
/
Flickr

The city of Syracuse is taking action in the wake of stories about lead in drinking water in some central New York schools. 

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner says the city will be testing for lead in water in each of the city’s public schools to make sure no high lead levels are lurking that could harm children.
“What we’re doing is being proactive, so we can make these determinations before harm settles in,” said the mayor.

Miner says it was the stories from nearby Ithaca that showed high lead levels in the drinking fountains and sinks in several schools that spurred action. But she notes that Syracuse has been aware of the possibility of lead poisoning, and has had programs to prevent it for years.

"It’s an issue in all older cities, because lead was so prevalent in paint and pipes and then if you don’t flush it out, it leaches from certain places, all of which we’ve known and we have been very proactive in trying to address. This is a case of the country catching up to where Syracuse is,” said Miner.

Lead pipes were banned in 1986, but some remain.Too much lead exposure can affect mental and physical development of children. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is calling on the federal government to help schools pay for lead testing.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.