The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a $26 million grant to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The funding will be available to all 55 states, territories, and the District of Columbia as part of the administration's "Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan."
"Science has made it clear that there is no safe level of lead exposure," said Bruno Pigott, Assistant Administrator for Water Resources. "As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s 'Investing in America Tour,' this $26 million grant will help protect children from lead poisoning. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA can also invest $15 billion to remove lead pipes and provide technical support to communities for developing and implementing lead pipe replacement plans."
Lead exposure poses severe risks to children, affecting their physical and mental development, reducing learning capacity, and causing irreversible brain damage. For adults, it can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney failure, and cancer.
Today's announcement is authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), which allocates funds for lead testing and remediation in schools and childcare facilities across states, territories, and the District of Columbia. Since 2019, over $150 million has been provided through the Voluntary Lead Testing & Reduction Grant Program to address sources of lead in drinking water at educational institutions nationwide.
The grant program mandates recipients to implement the 3Ts—Training, Testing, and Taking Action—to reduce lead levels in drinking water. The 3T initiative offers essential resources to states, territories, and tribes aiming to mitigate lead hazards in early care and education environments.
Further details about the EPA's Voluntary Lead Testing & Reduction Grant Program are available on their website.
Additionally, the EPA continues its "Get the Lead Out" initiative (GLO), working with underserved communities nationwide to provide technical assistance for identifying and removing lead service lines. GLO supports communities by helping them locate lead pipes, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding aimed at eliminating all traces of lead. Communities seeking GLO resources can apply via the EPA WaterTA website.
Background
The Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates an unprecedented $15 billion specifically for removing lead from drinking water systems. This funding supports the White House's Lead Pipe & Paint Action Plan that encourages federal, state, and local governments to use various tools for providing clean drinking water by replacing lead service lines and remediating lead-based paint. These improvements are crucial for locations where children spend significant time such as schools, daycare centers, home-based childcare services centers like kindergartens.
With successful programs like WIIN laying a strong foundation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aims to bring more benefits to communities across the nation.
