Gates Chili Central School District

What is “first draw” testing of school drinking water for lead?

The “on-again, off-again” nature of water use at most schools can raise lead levels in the school drinking water. Water that remains in pipes overnight, over a weekend, or over vacation periods stays in contact with lead pipes or lead solder and, as a result, could contain higher levels of lead. This is why schools are required to collect a sample after the water has been sitting in the plumbing system for a specified period. This “first draw” sample is likely to show higher levels of lead for that outlet than what you would see if you sampled after using the water continuously. However, even if the first draw sample does not reflect what you would see with continuous usage, it is still important because it can identify outlets that have elevated lead levels.

Gates Chili Middle School
Samples collected Nov. 4-5, 2025

Room: 101
Space: Faculty room
Fixture type: Right faucet
Sample results: 21.9 ppb

Room: 101
Space: Faculty room
Fixture type: Left faucet
Sample results: 6.2 ppb

Room: 605
Space: Faculty room/classroom
Fixture type: Faucet
Sample results: 10.7 ppb

Room: 216D
Space: Library office
Fixture type: Faucet
Sample results: 37.8 ppb

Gates Chili High School
Samples collected Sept. 6-21, 2025

Room: Exterior 
Space: Exterior pool pump room
Fixture type: Hose bib
Sample results: 57.9 ppb

Room: 938
Space: District Office
Fixture type: Coffee maker
Sample results: 28.6 ppb

Room: 914
Space: Distirct Office
Fixture type: Coffee maker
Sample results: 16.2 ppb

Room: 300B
Space: Nurse
Fixture type: Ice maker
Sample results: 10 ppb

Room: Exterior
Space: Exterior athletic director’s office
Fixture type: Hose bib
Sample results: 14.5 ppb

Gates Chili High School 
Samples collected Aug. 28, 2025

Room: Kitchen
Space: Large prep sink – single, middle
Fixture type: Faucet
Sample results: 5.8 ppb

Paul Road Elementary School
Samples collected June 18, 2025

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Two-bay prep sink – faucet
Sample results: 15.9 ppb

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Pot filler – faucet
Sample results: 11.7 ppb

Room: 130C
Space: Library office
Fixture type: Faucet
Sample results: 76.5

Florence Brasser Elementary School
Samples collected June 11, 2025

Room: Music
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Prep sink – left faucet
Sample results: 9.1 ppb

Room: Music
Space: Music (former locker room)
Fixture type: Prep sink – faucet
Sample results: 7.0 ppb

Neil Armstrong Elementary School
Samples collected May 14-15, 2025

Room: 43
Space: Faculty room
Fixture type: Faucet
Sample results: 9.3 ppb

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Large prep sink west – left faucet
Sample results: 26.6 ppb

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Large prep sink west – right faucet
Sample results: 8.2 ppb

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Small prep sink
Sample results: 13.1 ppb

Room: Corridor near faculty room
Space: Hallway
Fixture type: Drinking fountain
Sample results: 5.3 ppb

Room: B14
Space: Classroom
Fixture type: Bubbler
Sample results: 8.3 ppb

Room: B16
Space: Classroom
Fixture type: Bubbler
Sample results: 10.5 ppb

Room: D13
Space: Workroom/staff area
Fixture type: Faucet
Sample results: 17 ppb

What is being done in response to the results?

Faucets and water outlets throughout the district that are not used for drinking or cooking were not tested and a sign was posted at each outlet indicating that the sink is not to be used for drinking. Outlets that tested below the action level remain in service with no restrictions.

Gates Chili Middle School

Room: 101
Space: Faculty room
Fixture type: Right faucet
Response action: 

• Fixture labeled "handwashing only, not for drinking"
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Room: 101
Space: Faculty room
Fixture type: Left faucet
Response action: 

• Fixture labeled "handwashing only, not for drinking"
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Room: 605
Space: Faculty room/classroom
Fixture type: Faucet
Response action: 

• Fixture labeled "handwashing only, not for drinking"
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Room: 216D
Space: Library office
Fixture type: Faucet
Response action: 

• Fixture labeled "handwashing only, not For drinking"
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Gates Chili High School 

Room: Exterior 
Space: Exterior pool pump room
Fixture type: Hose bib
Response action:

• Water shut off, labled as “not for drinking”

Room: 938
Space: District Office
Fixture type: Coffee maker
Response action:

• Coffee maker disconnected from water supply line
• Shut-off valve changed
• Coffee maker retested

Room: 914
Space: Distirct Office
Fixture type: Coffee maker
Response action:

• Coffee maker disconnected from water supply line
• Shut-off valve changed
• Coffee maker retested

Room: 300B
Space: Nurse
Fixture type: Ice maker
Response action:

• Ice maker labled as “not for human consumption, use for ice bags only”

Room: Exterior
Space: Exterior athletic director’s office
Fixture type: Hose bib
​​​​​​​Response action:

• Water shut off, labled as “not for drinking”

Room: Kitchen
Space: Large prep sink – single, middle
Fixture type: Faucet
Response action:

• Water shut off
• Faucet replaced
• Water filter installed
• Faucet retested

Paul Road Elementary School

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Two-bay prep sink – faucet
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Pot filler – faucet
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Room: 130C
Space: Library office
Fixture type: Faucet
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• faucet retested

Florence Brasser Elementary School

Room: Music
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Prep sink – faucet
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• faucet retested

Room: Music
Space: Music (former locker room)
Fixture type: Faucet
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• faucet retested

Neil Armstrong Elementary School

Room: 43
Space: Faculty room
Fixture type: Faucet
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested

Room: Kitchen
Space: Kitchen
Fixture type: Large prep sink west – left faucet

• Water shut off
• Faucet to be replaced
• Water filter to be installed
• Faucet retested
• Only the large prep sink east will be used for food prep until remediation and retesting is complete

Room: Corridor near faculty room
Space: Hallway
Fixture type: Drinking fountain
Sample results: 5.3 ppb
Response action: 

• Water shut off
• Water filter to be changed
• drinking fountain retested

What are the other sources of lead exposure?

Lead is a metal that has been used for centuries for many purposes, resulting in widespread distribution in the environment. Major sources of lead exposure include lead-based paint in older housing, and lead that built up over decades in soil and dust due to historical use of lead in gasoline, paint, and manufacturing. Lead can also be found in a number of consumer products, including certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, foods, plumbing materials, and cosmetics. Lead seldom occurs naturally in water supplies but drinking water could become a possible source of lead exposure if the building’s plumbing contains lead. The primary source of lead exposure for most children with elevated blood-lead levels is lead-based paint.

Should your child be tested for lead?

The risk to an individual child from past exposure to elevated lead in drinking water depends on many factors, including but not limited to, a child’s age, weight, amount of water consumed, and the amount of lead in the water. Children may also be exposed to other significant sources of lead including paint, soil, and dust. Since blood lead testing is the only way to determine a child’s blood lead level, parents should discuss their child’s health history with their child’s physician to determine if blood lead testing is appropriate. Pregnant women or women of childbearing age should also consider discussing this matter with their physician.

Additional Resources

For more information regarding the testing program or sampling results, contact Anna Lamb, Director of Construction and Safety Compliance at (585) 247-5050.

For information about lead in school drinking water, go to: NYS Lead in School Drinking Water and/or NYS Department of Education Lead in Drinking Water Information

For information about NYS DOH Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, go to: NYS Department of Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

For more information on blood lead testing and ways to reduce your child’s risk of exposure to lead, see:

• What Your Child’s Blood Lead Test Means
• NYSDOH Lead Poisoning Prevention Publications