Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On August 22, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $26 million in funding to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and daycare facilities. This grant funding will be utilized across 55 states and territories, including the District of Columbia, to reduce lead exposure in environments where children learn and play, advancing the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration's Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.
“Science is clear: There is no safe level of lead exposure,” stated Bruno Pigott, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. “As part of the Investing in America Agenda under the Biden-Harris Administration, this $26 million will help protect our children from the dangers of lead. The EPA is also investing $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to remove lead pipes and provide technical assistance to communities to help them develop and implement lead pipe replacement projects.”
Lead can severely harm children's mental and physical development, slow learning, and damage the brain. In adults, it can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, reduced kidney function, and cancer.
The funding announced today was authorized under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and provided to participating states, the District of Columbia, and territories as grants for testing and improvements in schools and daycare facilities. Since 2019, Voluntary Lead Testing and Reduction Grants have provided over $150 million for testing and eliminating sources of lead in drinking water at schools and daycare centers across the United States.
The grant program requires recipients to use Training, Testing, and Taking Action (3Ts) to reduce lead in drinking water. The 3Ts program provides valuable resources for states, territories, and tribes to take precautions against lead exposure and protect children in childcare settings and educational environments.
The EPA is also advancing its Get the Lead Out (GLO) initiative which partners with underserved communities nationwide to provide technical assistance needed to identify and remove lead service lines. GLO specifically helps participating communities identify their lead service lines, develop a replacement plan, and apply for funding to remove them. Communities seeking access to GLO Initiative resources can request assistance by completing a WaterTA request form on the EPA’s WaterTA website.
Context
The Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dedicates $15 billion towards eliminating lead from drinking water systems. This funding supports achieving goals outlined in the White House Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan by encouraging federal, state, and local governments to utilize all available tools to provide clean drinking water by replacing lead pipes and renovating areas with lead-based paint. These improvements are particularly important in locations where children spend significant time such as schools, daycare centers including family daycares, preschools, and Head Start programs.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law builds on successful programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to bring more benefits to communities across the country.
