A state audit (see below) has found that the Bloomfield Central School District did not fully comply with state regulations for testing and remediating lead in its drinking water, leaving nearly 40% of water outlets untested or improperly exempted.
The audit, released by the Office of the State Comptroller, determined that 95 of the 246 water outlets identified in select areas of the district—39%—were not tested for lead or properly documented as exempt. Without that data, auditors said they could not confirm whether all high-risk outlets were identified or properly addressed.
Auditors also found that remediation efforts fell short at eight of the 31 outlets (26%) that had tested above the state’s lead action level. Although the district developed a remedial action plan, it lacked critical details, such as clear identification of exempt outlets and whether implemented safety measures met Department of Health (DOH) standards.
“District officials did not include all water outlets in their sampling plan, and some of the controls used for exempted outlets were not considered effective under DOH guidance,” the report noted.
While the district did notify the local health department, school staff, and families about the 31 outlets that exceeded lead levels, it did not meet all communication and follow-up requirements outlined in state regulations.
Importantly, district officials generally agreed with the audit’s findings and indicated they would take corrective actions to address the issues.
The report calls on the district to improve its water testing procedures, ensure all outlets are properly documented and evaluated, and update its remediation and communication plans to fully align with state health guidelines.
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