August 12, 2021

Dear District Students, Employees, and Community Members:

The Chautauqua Lake Central School District takes the health and safety of everyone in our District community seriously and regularly takes steps to ensure that we are providing a safe and healthy environment for all on our campus. Part of that commitment to health and safety includes annual testing for lead in the District’s water supply. In accordance with federal and state laws, the District annually tests water samples from all of the outlets from which potable water may be dispensed, including faucets, drinking fountains, and water bottle filling stations.

This year, that testing occurred on April 1, 2021, and the District received the testing results on June 2, 2021. In accordance with the outside expert the District retained to perform the testing, the first draw water samples were taken after letting the water remain unmoved in the pipes for 8 to 18 hours. Of the 194 water samples tested on April 1, 2021, 23 showed lead levels above the 15 parts per billion (ppb). It is noteworthy that none of these 23 areas is a water fountain or bottle filling station.  The district replaced the recommended mechanical components and tested the 23 areas again on July 23rd, and the District received the following results on August 2, 2021.   Of the 23 samples, 21 had lead content of fewer than 15 parts per billion and are safe to use.  The remaining two locations from which the samples with more than 15 parts per billion of lead were drawn will remain shut off so that no one gets water from either of those locations.

Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like groundwater, rivers, and lakes, but it can become part of the water supply due to the plumbing fixtures through which it passes. New laws that went into effect in 2014 reduced the amount of lead that plumbing fixtures can contain from 8% to 1%. However, brass faucets, fittings, and valves – including those advertised as “lead-free” – may still contribute lead into drinking water. Levels of lead at any water outlet above 15 ppb require action by the District to remediate this issue.

We will continue to work closely with the Chautauqua County Department of Health and the Village of Mayville to ensure safety for our students, staff, and extended school community. A copy of our water testing report is available in each of the schools’ main offices, which are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Results are also posted on the District website at www.clake.org.

For more information about water quality and sampling for lead contact the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services at 753-4000.

We take the health and safety of our community very seriously, and will work diligently and efficiently to ensure that the areas identified by the testing are adequately addressed. If you have any questions, please let one of us know. Thank you.  

Sincerely,

Dr. Joshua Liddell, Superintendent of Schools

Megan Lundgren, Elementary Principal

Rachel Curtin, Secondary Principal

Jackson Graham, School Business Executive & Chief Safety Officer

Barry Larson, Interim Director of Facilities