Tarago Public School students are restricted to bottled water and contaminated areas on the grounds have been isolated after independent testing.
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Results from testing carried out on behalf of the Department of Education were sent home in a letter to parents on Friday, March 13.
The testing comes after the community was notified of lead contamination at the nearby railway siding last month. The contamination was found by Transport NSW in 2015. Transport NSW recently carried out tests at the school and risks were found to be "low and acceptable". In response to community concern the Department of Education carried out further testing.
The letter, obtained by The Goulburn Post, details findings of additional sampling of air, soil, water and dust by an independent hygienist.
In the letter the department said the school was within safe levels and could be used by staff and students in the normal way.
While there was no presence of lead dust on surfaces below occupant height (1.8 metres), elevated lead levels were found above.
In addition, sampling in play areas confirmed low lead exposure but a small number of other areas in the school returned elevated levels. These areas have been isolated.
The letter said that despite these findings "the hygienist advised there is minimal lead exposure risk to staff and students."
"We acknowledge that even the smallest traces of hazardous materials or substances can be an unsettling experience for our school communities."
While the school had access to a new filtered water system since August 2019, bottled water has been in use since the nearby lead contamination came to their attention. Water was also capped off at bubblers to avoid accidental use.
A Department of Education spokesperson said going forward students and staff would continue to drink bottled water until "advice from NSW Health and further testing confirms the school can resume using its own water supply."
The spokesperson said as a precaution, an environmental clean to decontaminate rooms was undertaken at the school over the weekend.
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