The WSU EFC just wrapped up its lead in drinking water testing project with tribal schools and childcare facilities in Kansas and Nebraska. Thanks to funding and guidance from EPA Region 7, the EFC offered free lead testing for any tribal school and childcare facility in our region. The project was complicated by the virus and all the disruptions it has created for the daily operations of schools and childcare facilities. Despite these challenges the drinking water at two tribal schools and four childcare facilities were completed.
The project aimed to reduce exposure to lead through drinking water for Native nation children. Lead can enter drinking water as pipes and fixtures containing lead corrode. This is most likely to occur in older facilities that were constructed before the use of lead pipes was banned in 1986. . Children are particularly susceptible to lead, so it is important to ensure that their exposure to lead is minimized or eliminated
Although there is no safe level of lead, EPA has identified an action level of 15 parts per billion for lead in drinking water. Some states have identified levels even lower than the national standard. For example, the has established an action level of 5 parts per billion for lead in schools and childcare facilities.
. The new Lead and Copper regulations will likely require schools and childcare facilities to test for lead to ensure the safety of our nation鈥檚 youth. Testing responsibility will likely fall to school and childcare staff. Fortunately, there is lots of support material available to help. Information is also available from each of the states鈥� health agencies, including funding assistance for the testing in some instances. Schools and childcare facilities are encouraged to contact their local county health department and state health agencies to learn more about available resources.
The cost of sampling and funding assistance can vary. Check with your local and state health agencies for possible funding assistance. Your local water utility may also be a resource for funding assistance, sampling staff and technical expertise as they routinely collect water samples to ensure the safety of the drinking water they produce.
Here are a few tips that we learned during our project:
1) Develop a sampling plan that follows the path of water through your facility. The
first samples should be closest to where the water first enters the structure and
then collect samples following the distribution of water throughout the facility.
Your facility鈥檚 janitor and/or facility engineer can help identify the flow of water
and should be consulted in the sampling discussions.
2) Not all of the faucets and water fountains need to be tested. Select a representative
sample from your school or childcare facility. If you have a large facility, the costs
of testing may become prohibitive, so select a sample of faucets and water sources.
3) Do not forget to include sinks and faucets just available to staff to ensure their
safety, particularly ones used by pregnant and nursing mothers.
4) The water at a facility does not have to be turned off for the sampling. It just
needs to sit and soak in the pipes for a minimum of 8 hours and no more than 18 hours.
These requirements are commonly met during the school week.
5) Contact your local water utility and health agencies to see if they can assist
with the sampling or provide technical assistance. As mentioned, your local water
utility routinely collects water samples to ensure the safety of the water. Their
staff may volunteer to assist with the sample collection!
6) Make sure to keep your staff, students and parents advised on the potential health
risks associated with lead. EPA 鈥檚 3Ts guidance includes lots of examples of outreach
and communication documents that your facility can easily adapt and use for this purpose.
7) This is a useful resource to help you will all aspects of the testing and keeping
everyone informed of your efforts.
We appreciated the opportunity to help ensure the safety of tribal nation鈥檚 youth in our region. We encourage staff from schools and childcare facilities to contact us with any questions on the project!
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement AI97756601 to 成人头条 Environmental Finance Center. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.