Lead Contamination Crisis in East Ramapo Schools

In a community nestled an hour north of New York City, the East Ramapo Central School District has become engulfed in a lead contamination crisis that has persisted for years. This alarming situation affects nearly 9,800 public school students, predominantly from Black and Latino backgrounds. Sylvia Foster of the Washington Post recently reported on Carrie Brancano, a former student, who expressed her concern over the exposure to lead in the tap water of her elementary, middle, and high schools. Tests revealed levels exceeding 2,000 parts per billion, significantly above the federal limit of 15 parts per billion. Carrie recalled her disbelief and feeling of betrayal as she realized her childhood schools had failed to provide safe drinking water. The absence of national requirements for schools to test and remediate lead in their water worsens the problem. Despite efforts from the district to shut water fountains and provide bottled water, community skepticism remains high. Grassroots organizations led by concerned parents and former students like Carrie demand accountability and action, pointing to systemic issues they believe stem from environmental racism. As they push for infrastructure improvements, they highlight the broader need for federal regulations to ensure all children have access to safe drinking water.