The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $2,123,000 in funding for Texas to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. This grant will be utilized by 55 states and territories, including the District of Columbia, to reduce lead exposure where children learn and play, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.
Lead exposure can significantly harm children's mental and physical development, causing irreversible brain damage and learning delays. In adults, it is associated with increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.
Authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, this funding supports lead testing and remediation in educational settings. 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. schools and childcare facilities.
Recipients of these grants are required to implement the 3Ts – Training, Testing, and Taking Action – to mitigate lead in drinking water. The 3Ts Program offers essential resources for states, territories, and Tribes to address lead contamination effectively in early care environments.
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. GLO aids communities in developing replacement plans and securing funding to eliminate lead hazards. Communities can request GLO Initiative resources via EPA’s WaterTA website.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates an unprecedented $15 billion towards eliminating lead from drinking water. This funding supports efforts outlined in the White House's Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan aimed at ensuring clean drinking water through federal, state, and local collaboration.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law builds on existing programs like the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act’s Grant Programs to extend benefits nationwide.
