Queens parks top list of lead-contaminated drinking fountains tested so far
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An interactive map published by the NYC Parks Department shows the Queens drinking fountains with excessive lead levels. Image via the Parks Department.
[UPDATE — 6:15 p.m., May 28, 2019: This story has been update to include a response from the Park Department]
By Jonathan Sperling
Nearly 20 drinking fountains located at parks and playgrounds across Queens have been found to contain excessive lead levels, according to the early results of lead testing by the NYC Parks Department.
The results of the tests, which were first publicized by Gothamist/WNYC last week, show that drinking fountains at some Queens parks have as much as 22 times the federal limit for lead levels, which is 15 parts per billion (ppb). WNYC reported that 20 fountains out of the 448 fountains checked so far tested above the federal limit.
Drinking fountains at the Cunningham Park tennis courts in Fresh Meadows, the Dry Harbor Playground in Forest Park and Oak Ridge in Forest Park were among the borough’s most lead-contaminated fountains, with the water fountains containing 339.20 ppb, 296 ppb and 149 ppb of lead, respectively.
Fountains at Kissena Park, Bayswater Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park were also found to have lead levels over the federal guideline. The drinking fountain at the Orchard Beach Pavillion in the Bronx was the worst on the list, with water that was found to contain 760 ppb of lead.
The fountains that were found to contain excessive lead levels will be temporarily closed and reopened throughout the summer, according to the Parks Department.
The Parks Department began lead testing all of its more than 3,500 outdoor drinking fountains on May 6 as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's LeadFreeNYC plan.
A Parks Department spokesperson said that Queens has a higher number of lead-contaminated drinking fountains because Queens was the first borough to undergo testing.
The Health Department has confirmed that water from parks fountains is not a known source of elevated blood lead levels in children, the spokesperson said. There are no known cases of lead poisoning from water fountains in city parks, the spokesperson added.
As of Tuesday, the official Parks Department website states “Our water fountains are safe to drink from, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. They are not a known source of childhood lead exposure. It is good practice to let the water run for 30 seconds before drinking.”
The site also includes an interactive map that allows users to track drinking fountains that have been or will be tested for lead across the city.
Lead contamination is also a problem in many Queens homes.
A September 2018 study by the city’s Independent Budget Office revealed that Ridgewood and Maspeth have the highest rate of tap water lead contamination of any neighborhood in Queens. Residents may request free lead test kits from the city by calling 311 or visiting the city’s website.
