The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $267,000 in funding for Arkansas to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. This grant will be used 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 severely impact children's mental and physical development, causing irreversible brain damage. In adults, it can lead to increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.
The funding is authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and is 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. schools and childcare facilities.
Recipients of the grant must 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 act on lead issues in early care settings.
Additionally, EPA's Get the Lead Out (GLO) initiative partners with underserved communities nationwide to provide technical assistance needed to identify and remove lead service lines. GLO helps communities develop replacement plans and apply for funding.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has dedicated $15 billion to removing lead from drinking water. This funding supports efforts under the White House's Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan to ensure clean drinking water by replacing lead pipes and remediating lead paint in places frequented by children such as schools and childcare centers.
For more information on these initiatives or to connect with EPA Region 6 on social media platforms like Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter), visit their homepage.
