[Press Release] State and county health departments issue “DO NOT DRINK” water advisories for two Westchester County schools

New York State Department of Health | March 17, 2021

Read the full article (New York State Department of Health)

“ALBANY, N.Y. (March 17, 2021) – The New York State Department of Health, in coordination with the Westchester County Health Department, today recommended ‘Do Not Drink’ advisories for the Pequenakonck Elementary School in North Salem, New York and Meadow Pond Elementary in South Salem, New York.The advisories, issued out of an abundance of caution, direct the school communities to stop using water for drinking, cooking and food preparation. Bottled water is being provided by both schools and the State stands ready to assist the schools and the county where needed. Water continues to be acceptable for uses such as handwashing and various cleaning activities including washing dishes.

The ‘Do Not Drink’ advisories were issued following the very recent discovery of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the schools’ water systems at levels above New York’s recently adopted,and highly protective,Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of 10 parts per trillion, each, for PFOA and PFOS. The standards require water systems of all sizes to test for these previously unregulated contaminants, notify consumers if the results exceed the standards, and take the appropriate actions to bring the water systems back into compliance.

The affected school districts are working closely with Westchester County Health Department and New York State agencies to collect additional samples and discuss long-term solutions to improve water quality. Additionally, the State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) are working to identify and address potential sources of contamination…”

This content provided by the PFAS Project.