Mark Morgenstein
Director of Media Relations, The Public Interest Network
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STATEMENT: EPA releases $26 million to get the lead out of schools’ water
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Advocates urge states to devote funding to filters and water stations, not more testing
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Thursday that it is releasing $26 million to help schools and child care centers reduce lead in drinking water. Lead contamination of schools’ water is widespread across the country, due primarily to the prevalence of plumbing, faucets and fountains containing the toxic heavy metal.
Kids are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of lead, yet most states’ current efforts are woefully inadequate to safeguard their schools’ water, according to an analysis by Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
In addition to funding, parent and teacher organizations are also urging the EPA to adopt a stronger policy on schools’ water than the agency’s proposed Lead & Copper Rule Improvements, which is now at the White House for review. A final rule is expected this fall.
In response, John Rumpler, Environment America Research & Policy Center’s clean water director, released the following statement:
“The EPA is providing vital resources to help ensure that our kids have safe drinking water wherever they go to learn and play each day. Now, it is crucial that state and local officials use that funding on actions that will actually get the lead out — such as installing filters and replacing old fountains with new water stations at school.
“For far too long, testing has been the main approach to lead in water. And widespread contamination has been found. Yet lead concentrations in water are so highly variable that even taps where no lead is detected can be ‘highly hazardous.’
“That’s why a small but growing number of jurisdictions — including Michigan, Philadelphia and Washington, DC — have adopted policies requiring filters certified to remove lead at every tap used for cooking or drinking water in schools. Other states and cities should follow their example, and use this new federal funding for prevention, not more testing.
“While EPA gets a good grade on this assignment, it has a much bigger homework assignment due this fall. The Biden administration must strengthen EPA’s proposed Lead & Copper Rule to move beyond testing and to get the lead out of schools’ water.”