Buffalo Public school families were expected to begin receiving letters Wednesday in the mail regarding results of lead levels in the water. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says Mayor Byron Brown is pleased the district initiated the testing process, but is not making a commitment to help for cost in remediation.
“Right now it is up to the school district to take this on,” said Mayor Brown. That was the Mayor’s response when asked how the city would assist the school district.
Testing continues, but results are back from 2,300 water sources, such as sinks and water fountains, tested at 18-schools. 68-sources had lead levels at or above 15-parts per billion. That’s the state's action level. This includes five drinking fountains. One has been identified at Olmsted at Kensington. The District is estimating remediation could cost an estimated $300,000.
“The city can assist with some technical assistance, technical direction and that is the assistance that we’ve been talking through now,” explained Mayor Brown.
Schools are required by the state to test for lead in water sources. The Mayor tells WBFO News he has had some conversation with the district to assist with the process.
“Superintendent Cash is a great educational leader and we will try to assist the school district in Buffalo in any we can with this process,” Brown said.
The Mayor has stated residential water supplies are safe. The city has conducted similar tests in homes and the mayor says homeowners will be assisted.
Water samples were taken at all the city's schools expect for one high school. Water samples are scheduled to be collected Thursday at Leonardo DaVinci School located on the D'Youville College Campus.
