Leaders in Reducing Lead in Drinking Water

Illinois

 Public Act 99-0922  mandated that schools serving PreK- 5th graders, and built before January 1, 2000, test for lead in drinking water. The Act also requires that parents and guardians of students be notified of lead results greater than or equal to a specified amount. Additionally, state guidance provides the most common mitigation strategies.

The law also requires testing for all day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes that serve children ages birth to six years that were constructed on or before January 1, 2000. The rules were effective as of January 1, 2019.

For those required to test, the results and, if required, a mitigation plan must be submitted to the local Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) licensing office within 120 days of receipt of the test results. For test results 2.01 parts per billion (ppb) or higher, a written mitigation plan must be developed and posted in the home or center and submitted to the DCFS licensing representative. Mitigation action is also required.

Learn more about programs and policies for reducing lead in drinking water  in schools and child care facilities in Illinois .

Indiana

The Lead Sampling Program for Public Schools sampled over 915 school buildings, representing 60% of Indiana's school students.

The Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) worked with each school to identify remediation approaches to address exposure to lead in drinking water by removing or replacing fixtures, posting handwashing-only signs, or routinely flushing fixtures before use.

The IFA worked with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to develop the technical aspects of the program. IFA also collaborated with 120Water Audit for the development of a central web-based database platform to track all results and Indiana University for the staffing coordination of the statewide sampling campaign. IFA was responsible for funding sample collection and analysis while the schools were responsible for funding remediation actions.

Learn more about programs and policies for reducing lead in drinking water  in schools and child care facilities in Indiana .

Maine

LD 153 - An Act to Strengthen Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water, mandated all schools test their drinking water for lead. Presentations have been given to schools and public water systems by the Maine Drinking Water Program and Maine Rural Water Association as outreach for the upcoming lead testing, and additional training for sample collection will be provided to schools.

Testing is funded by the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water WIIN grant. Remediation is not required but will be recommended. Schools will be responsible for funding remediation activities.

Quick Statistics • 4 parts per billion (ppb): mitigation/remediation recommended • 15 ppb: mitigation/remediation highly recommended

Remediation Tactics Depending on lead result: • Flushing • Clean aerators shut off fixtures  • Install “Do Not Drink” sign • Provide bottled water • Remove or replace fixtures • Install a filter      • Add corrosion control chemicals

To follow Maine’s Sampling Program visit:  Maine - Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water 

Maryland

In Maryland, all schools that receive drinking water from a public utility must test for lead in drinking water every three years. Drinking water fixtures with elevated lead results must be removed from service. The fixtures must remain out of service until remediation takes place. Schools must continue to sample unless they receive a waiver from the state. When the program began, the schools paid for sampling and remediation costs.

In 2019, Maryland allowed funding for remediation in public schools under the  Healthy School Facility Fund  (HSFF). The total cost for the first complete round of testing is estimated to be $2.91 million, and the total cost for remediation is estimated to range from $7.6 million to $18.9 million. Quick Statistics • Maryland’s action level is 5 parts per billion (ppb) in a 250 millileter (mL) sample

Sampling Data • 71,000 samples received and verified as of February 2022 • 15.3% of samples collected exceeded the 5 ppb action level • 8.68% of samples were collected from drinking water fixtures • 6.61% of samples were collected from non-consumption fixtures

Remediation Tactics • Permanent closure of access to fixtures (e.g., physically disconnect from water supply system) • Removal of the fixture • Installation and maintenance of a point of use filter • Repair/reconfiguration/replacement of the fixture, plumbing, or service line • Installation and maintenance of automatic flushing system(s) • Provision of bottled water • Inspection of any grounding wires, and, if appropriate, reconfiguration/replacement of the grounding system

Learn more about programs and policies for reducing lead in drinking water  in schools and child care facilities in Maryland .  

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Assistance Program for Lead in Schools Drinking Water began in 2016. This program, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Drinking Water Program has partnered with other state departments and organizations to implement the program, including the Department of Public Health, Department of Early Education and Care, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, and University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Phases 1 and 2 (2016-2020) provided free sampling and technical assistance to public schools and public child care facilities, and was funded by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. Phase 3 (began in 2020) provides free sampling and technical assistance to public schools and public and private group and family child care facilities and is funded by the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water WIIN grant. MassDEP recommends that all schools and child care facilities resample for lead every three years.

Trainings have been offered in-person and virtually for school and child care officials and public water system operators. The cost per facility ranges from $20 to $40 for lead and copper testing. However, the cost can reach tens of thousands of dollars per facility if extensive remediation is completed. Quick Statistics • Voluntary program for all public schools and public/private childcare facilities • Three phase assistance program • Action level for lead is 1 parts per billion (ppb)

Sampling Data • 50% of schools have completed testing as of February 2022 Remediation Tactics • Flushing • Plumbing replacement • Fixture removal • Providing water bottles • Placement of warning signs • Installation of filtered water filling stations.

Learn more about Massachusetts’  Lead in Drinking Water in Schools Training. 

New York

In 2016, New York State Chapter 296 required all public-school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to test drinking water for lead contamination and take remedial action if lead exceeds the action level. Any fixture exceeding the action level must be immediately removed from service until remediation is implemented. Building occupants must be provided an adequate supply of water for drinking and cooking until remediation is performed and subsequent testing results are at or below the action level. Schools must notify the local health department, parents, and students of lead exceedances and report test results to the state Department of Health.

Learn more about programs and policies for reducing lead in drinking water  in schools and child care facilities in New York.  

North Carolina

North Carolina’s “Clean Water for Carolina Kids” testing program has tested drinking and cooking taps at 4,295 facilities, as of February 2022. The program began in 2017 as a pilot study, funded by RTI International Internal Research Grants. The pilot study findings formed the scientific basis for a statewide lead testing rule for child care centers that was promulgated by the  NC Division of Public Health  with legal support from the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic and advocacy from NC Child.

Since 2020, the testing has been funded by a Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water WIIN grant.

First draw samples are collected by child care or school administrators after a short training webinar then shipped to RTI International for laboratory analysis. The program provides support and communication throughout the process including training on enrollment, sample collection and shipment, risk communication, and risk mitigation. State and local health officials provide follow-up testing and on-site support for centers that have a tap with a lead concentration at or above 15 parts per billion (ppb) in the first draw sample. As of December 2021, the state lead hazard level was lowered from 15 to 10 ppb.

Program results demonstrated high variability in first draw lead concentrations at water points within the same building. The program shows that testing for lead at every tap used for drinking and cooking is critical in places where children learn and play. This work underscores the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships in making it possible to advance water and health research, policies, and outcomes. Furthermore, our approach empowers child care and school administrators to understand how to personally test, take action, and communicate with staff, parents, and children about water quality improvements.

Quick Statistics • Clean Water for Carolina Kids program is currently testing licensed child care centers and child care homes across the state • Estimated 230,000 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers attend child care centers in the state • Remediation action recommendations depend on level of lead Sampling Data As of February 2022:

• 97.6% of Licensed Child Care Facilities (4,295 facilities) sample • In 9% of centers, at least one tap contained lead at or above 15 ppb • Approximately 2% of more than 23,500 samples collected contain lead at or above 15 ppb Remediation Tactics Remediation trigger level based plan is based on parts per billion testing levels.

15 parts per billion • State or Local Health Department will check the tap and resample • Removal from service and/or replacement • Install and maintain filter

5 parts per billion • Removal from service and/or replacement • Install and maintain filter • Flushing

Above 1 part per billion • Removal from service • Install and maintain filter • Flushing • Practice Clean Water Habits 

Learn more about the results of North Carolina’s  “Clean Water for Carolina Kids”  testing program.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s lead program works with schools, child care facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs, children’s hospitals, and children’s homes. The program is called Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Program (LWSC) and is funded by the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water WIIN grant. A small amount of state funding is available for remediation.

Testing started in June 2020 and slowed because of the pandemic. Testing picked up in July 2021 and has been conducted for schools and childcare facilities continuously.

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the Oklahoma State Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services, the state Secretary of Energy and Environment's Office, and the Oklahoma Parent Teacher Association work together to manage the program. Testing has mostly been conducted during the summer months. One school has completed remediation for a total cost around $25,000.

As of February 2022, four schools and childcare facilities have completed the program. Three schools have requested remediation funding from DEQ for a total of $15,328. Two of those schools are currently being re-sampled post remediation action. One school has completed remediation on their own to replace all classroom faucets.

Quick Statistics As of February 2022, 5,174 facilities qualify for LWSC.

Sampling Data as of February 2022 • 20 schools and childcare facilities have been tested • Samples taken: 1,558 • Affecting students and staff: 7,038 • 28.17% of fixtures have found detectable lead levels between 1 and 15 parts per billion (ppb) • 3.85% of fixtures had detectable lead levels above 15 ppb • 7 samples had lead results between 100 and 519 ppb Remediation Tactics • Clean aerators • Flushing • Install filter • Removal from service • Replace fixture • Replace internal plumbing or service line

Learn more about the  Oklahoma department of Environmental Quality. 

Rhode Island

Rhode Island tested for lead in public schools in 2016 and 2017. The University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension helped facilitate testing. At least three samples were collected from each school. Sampling and associated activities was estimated to cost $300,000.

In 2020, sixty-five water fountains were replaced in fifteen schools with the highest lead results. This was funded by the CDC’s Public Health and Health Services (PHHS) funding, and it cost $60,000 (excluding installation costs).

Quick Statistics • Testing program covered public schools

Sampling Data as of February 2022 • 100% of public schools were sampled • 3 samples taken at each  • 314 public schools sampled

Remediation Tactics • Replace fixtures

Learn more about the  Rhode Island - Lead in Schools in Drinking Water program. 

Tribal Nations

EPA partnered with tribal nations to conduct voluntary lead sampling in tribal schools, day care centers, and other facilities that primarily serve children.

EPA works collaboratively with the tribes to develop sampling plans for each facility, provide bottles, conduct the analysis and recommend follow-up action based on sampling results. Tribal drinking water operators, environmental staff, and school administrators participated in sampling efforts thus far. At the request of the tribe, EPA is also supplying additional support to conduct resampling to confirm if the actions to remove lead were effective. In 2018, a total of 24 facilities were tested. The sampling effort is ongoing, with an additional 58 childcare facilities identified for sampling between January 2019 and December 2020.