How much lead is in school drinking water? Alarmingly, no one knows
You can’t see it, or smell it, or taste it, and nor can children, but lead could be causing a host of detrimental effects on kids. Moreover, no one knows how many public schools don’t have safe drinking water.
By the time a child graduates from school, estimates show that they’ve spent roughly 15,600 hours at school. A significant amount of kids’ daily water intake comes from school water fountains. With those concerns in mind, let’s look at the threat to health that comes from contaminated drinking water and what schools (and parents) can do about it.
Lead poisoning in children can cause:
- Developmental delays
- Learning difficulties
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Sluggishness and fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Hearing loss
- Seizures
- Eating things that aren’t food (pica)
Fountains, taps, pipes, and plumbing fixtures containing lead can leach into the water. Even small amounts of lead, greater than the 1 ppb (part per billion) advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), harms health.
In 2017, a Government Accountability Report found that, of the 43% of schools with data available, 37% found elevated lead levels in their water. Out of a dozen states with available testing data, almost half of schools found lead in their drinking water.
To date, federal regulations have not required schools or childcare facilities to test for lead in drinking water. State and local levels are not consistent, and testing efforts don’t offer technical or financial support to mitigate sources of lead in water.
New Regulations
Starting in October 2024, new federal regulations require community water systems to test for lead in schools and childcare facilities. They must test at least 20% of elementary schools and early education and care facilities each year. All facilities must be tested within five years. These are part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
If lead levels exceed the actionable threshold, schools must take corrective action, such as replacing fixtures or providing alternative water sources.
The EPA enforces the Lead and Copper Rule which mandates utilities to provide schools with guidance on reducing lead in drinking water. This includes distributing the EPA 3Ts Toolkit (Training, Testing, and Taking Action).
What Can Parents Do?
To check your child’s school for safety from lead contamination:
- Request information. Contact school administration to ask about testing water outlets. Some schools are required to test annually.
- Review reports. Ask for the latest lead testing reports. Schools should have these available for parent review.
- Check your state’s health department website for specific guidelines and requirements regarding lead testing in schools.
- If you are concerned about the thoroughness of the school testing, you can hire a certified professional to conduct independent lead testing.
- If you suspect your child has been exposed to lead, consult with your healthcare provider about getting a blood lead test. That is the most reliable way to detect lead poisoning.
Sources
- National Association of State Boards of Education
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Mayo Clinic
Source: Study Finds
Dr. Coleman is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and holds a BA in journalism from UNM. She completed her family practice residency at Wm. Beaumont Hospital, Troy and Royal Oak, MI, consistently ranked among the United States Top 100 Hospitals by US News and World Report. Dr. Coleman writes on health, medicine, family, and parenting for online information services and educational materials for health care providers.
