Yonkers Insider: Westchester County Legislator Majority Whip, Christopher Johnson, 16th District: Free Drinking Water Lead Testing Available.

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

Westchester residents concerned about lead in their tap water can get a free test under a pilot program from the New York State Department of Health.

The Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research is one of six labs across the state participating in the program.

The easiest way to participate is to fill out a short form and e-mail it to the Bureau of Water Supply Protection (BWSP). (en español)

Alternately, you can email FreeWaterTesting@health.ny.gov directly or call the State Health Department at (518) 402-7650 to request a free drinking water lead test kit. You will need to provide the following information:

1. your name;
2. your phone number;
3. your e-mail address;
4. address for sample location and address for mailing test kit, if different;
5. county for sample location;
6. 1st choice for participating laboratory selected from the list below; and
7. 2nd choice for participating laboratory selected from the list below.

Laboratory	City/Town	County
Advanced Analytical Technologies	Orangeburg	Rockland
EMSL Analytical, Inc.	New York	New York
Envirotest Laboratories, Inc.	Newburgh	Orange
Erie County Public Health Laboratory	Buffalo	Erie
NY Environmental and Analytical Labs Inc.	Port Washington	Nassau
Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research	Valhalla	Westchester

The NYS DOH will notify the laboratory of your request. The laboratory will then send you a sample kit that includes:

• two 250 ml sample containers, one marked “first-draw sample” and another “flush sample”;
• sampling instructions with a mailing box; and
• return postage.

You will need to collect and return the samples to the laboratory within 30 days from receiving the sample kit. The laboratory will analyze the samples, and mail the test results and information back to you within 30 days from the day they received your samples.

For more information visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/free_lead_testing_pilot_program

Please forward this e-news to family and friends who may be interested in this information.

Sincerely,