Environmental Health Water Team, Tompkins County Health Department

Left to Right:
Adriel Shea, Senior Sanitarian, Elizabeth Cameron, Environmental Health Director, and Chris Laverack, Sanitarian

Not pictured:
Steve Maybee, Environmental Engineer

The Environmental Health Water Team has lead our 2016 response to lead contamination identified in our school drinking water. The lead contamination forced the largest school district to provide bottled water to students and staff while solutions could be identified. They addressed the technical needs of the water systems while providing public information to calm the fears of our community. They simultaneously had to address the effects of a summer drought on the Tompkins County public drinking water systems. Two of three large water treatment plants were experiencing supply problems creating concern that demand of safe drinking water might exceed available supply. The Team worked with the entire community to identify solutions and encourage conservation. Through their efforts water supplies were adequate to meet the demand, averting an emergency situation.

Learn more about Public Health Sanitarians and Environmental Health Careers.