EPA Releases Updated Drinking Water Lead Testing Toolkit

To assist schools and child care facilities in ensuring the safety of their drinking water, the Environmental Protection Agency has released an updated 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water toolkit.

The online toolkit is organized into seven modules and includes customizable templates, and checklists and other tools to help schools and child care facilities to develop and implement a lead testing program. EPA is hosting a webinar on October 25 to introduce the new toolkit. Click here to register.

Additional toolkit features:

• Provides a more nuanced discussion of the Action Level (the content of lead in tap water that should trigger action)

• Recommends developing a communications plan as a first step

• Describes a “sequential sampling ” technique to aid in determining the source of lead

• Provides information on “taking action,” which includes immediate, short-term and long-term measures to remediate

• Also comes in a colorful downloadable version, with a checklist for schools

In addition to the online manual, the EPA has also provided fact sheets for public water systems, child care facilities, and tribal schools. EPA also recently announced the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant program, offering $20 million in funding focused on lead testing in schools and child care programs.