Find Out If Your Park's Drinking Fountain Has Lead in Its Water

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation says that it has sampled more than 3,000 public drinking fountains in parks and playgrounds, and has only 150 left to test as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's effort to reduce childhood lead exposure, LeadFreeNYC.

WNYC analyzed the results so far. Just around 5 percent of the city's water fountains have more than the federal limit of 15 parts of lead per billion (ppb), but many public health experts say that threshold is outdated and should be lowered to protect more children.

Where are the city's most contaminated fountains? In Central Park near Lasker Rink, one bubbler tested at 641.2 ppb. Another one at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx came in at 760 ppb. 

To find out how your local watering source stands up, find it on our map. (If you can't, that means the Parks Department has not yet published the results.)

Support for WNYC’s health coverage is provided in part by the New York State Health Foundation, improving the health of all New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable. Learn more at www.nyshealth.org