Solutions for Protecting Children From Lead in Water

Exposure to lead from drinking water is not common, but it occasionally can have serious health consequences. Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. Many children in the U.S. are exposed via multiple sources, including through their drinking water.

In some cases lead-contaminated drinking water may be a result of a home or building’s internal plumbing fixtures, but there are also many communities across the country that are serviced by their water supplier via lead service lines. An estimated 11,200 community water systems across the U.S. have lead service lines. Full and safe replacement of these lead service lines is a step officials can take to reduce children’s exposure to lead in their communities.

Earlier this year, a diverse group of 23 national organizations launched the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative (LSLCR) to provide resources for communities across the Nation to implement lead service line replacement programs. The Children’s Environmental Health Network, a LSLRC member, hosted a webinar for public health professionals and healthcare providers on the health impacts of lead, the problem of lead in drinking water, and the new Collaborative resources. Click to view a recording on the webinar.