Background Info
Water can absorb lead from pipes, fixtures, and solder found in the plumbing
Under the Federal Lead and Copper Rule, public water is regulated to ensure that it is lead-free when it is delivered to you. However, water can absorb lead from corrosion of pipes, solder, and fixtures located in buildings. Therefore, it is possible that there is lead in your drinking water and that it is at higher levels than other buildings in the area.
Funding
The Federal Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act created a grant program to support voluntary testing for lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities nationwide.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is offering grant funding to eligible schools and child care facilities located in Pennsylvania for drinking water lead reduction activities.
Lead reduction actions may include installation of the following:
Hydration station certified to remove lead
Point-of-use (POU) devices certified to remove lead
Faucet replacement with lead-free materials
Certain limitations apply for reimbursement funding.
Test First, Then Fix
The primary goal of the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing & Reduction Grant is to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water. Eligible applicants must have appropriate drinking water sample results showing an exceedance of the remediation trigger level (5 parts per billion) within 36 months of the date of their application to quality. Funding under this grant has been appropriated under 1464(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), amended by section 2107 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.
For project and funding inquiries, please contact the WIIN 2107 resource account at RA-EPWIINLead@pa.gov
The Science behind the testing:
3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Childcare Facilities
TRAINING
Training school and childcare officials to raise awareness of the 3Ts program and summarize the potential causes and health effects of lead in drinking water.
TESTING
Testing drinking water in schools and childcare facilities to identify potential lead problems.
TAKING ACTION
Taking action to reduce lead in drinking water.
Elevated lead levels?
Our experts know how to help you navigate this process for the health of the children in your building.
Additional Links
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) webpage has lead in drinking water information for schools and day cares on their webpage.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education(PDE) Public School Code was amended in June 2018 (by Act 39 of 2018) to encourage schools to test for lead in their drinking water. Read more on this webpage.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is an early learning collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health lead poisoning webpage has informative resources as well as contact information and a lead information hotline.