BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lead contamination in schools has been an enduring issue in New York — but there may be a solution on the horizon.

On Thursday, the New York Public Interest Research Group released a new tool to help visualize how widespread the problem is. Interactive maps show users the reported lead levels in their local schools.

Alex Bornemisza, the Western New York regional coordinator for NYPIRG, said that it’s important for all stakeholders to understand the severity of the situation.

“It’s in cities, it’s in suburbs, it’s in rural counties and areas. It’s everywhere,” said Bornemisza. “This is an issue that affects everyone.”

NYPIRG is pushing for the passage of a bill in the state Senate that would mandate filters on water outlets that test positive for lead.

State Sen. Pete Harckham, the bill’s sponsor, said the bill would fund these filters using money already carved out of the state budget for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act.

“We’re pushing so hard for early next year passage on this, because this will be the first time that school districts will be directly reimbursed by the Clean Water Infrastructure Act,” said Harckham. “It is by far the most cost-effective way and the fastest way to get this done.”

Upstate native state Sen. April Baskin is one of the bill’s cosponsors.

In a statement to Spectrum News 1, Baskin said:

“We need to get the lead out, out of our homes, our water, and especially our schools. It was disheartening, but not surprising, to read last month in a report on school drinking water that 70% of schools in Erie County had at least one water source with lead levels over the State’s safety limit. This is why we need to pass my colleague State Senator Pete Harckham’s bill that requires the installation of water filters in our schools that remove lead. Installing water filters will have a more immediate and cost-effective impact, as compared to changing the water supply or replacing the plumbing infrastructure in every school. There is no safe level of lead, that is why we need to take every step to get the lead out as quickly as possible.”

The bill is currently in committee. Its supporters hope to bring it to the floor soon after the state Legislature reconvenes in January.