On August 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $26 million in funding to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. This grant will be utilized by 55 states, territories, and the District of Columbia to reduce lead exposure where children learn and play, advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.
“The science is clear: There is no safe level of exposure to lead,” said Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, this $26 million will help protect our children from the harmful impacts of lead. EPA is also investing $15 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to remove lead pipes and is providing technical assistance to communities to help them develop and implement lead pipe replacement projects.”
Lead exposure can severely harm children's mental and physical development, causing irreversible brain damage. In adults, it can result in increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.
The funding was authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and will be provided as grants for lead testing and remediation in schools and childcare facilities. Since 2019, the Voluntary School and Childcare Lead Testing and Reduction Grant has allocated over $150 million for testing and removing lead sources in drinking water across U.S. educational settings.
The grant program mandates recipients use the 3Ts – Training, Testing, and Taking Action – to mitigate lead in drinking water. The 3Ts Program offers resources for states, territories, and Tribes to address lead issues effectively.
Additionally, EPA's Get the Lead Out (GLO) initiative partners with underserved communities nationwide to provide technical assistance for identifying and removing lead service lines. Communities can request GLO Initiative resources through EPA’s WaterTA website.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has dedicated an unprecedented $15 billion to removing lead from drinking water. This funding supports efforts under the White House's Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan by encouraging all levels of government to ensure clean drinking water by replacing lead pipes and remediating lead paint.
