Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
WASHINGTON – Today, August 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the allocation of $26 million in grants to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. This funding will be utilized by 55 states and territories, as well as the District of Columbia, to reduce lead exposure in places where children learn and play, advancing the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration's Lead Action Plan.
"The science is clear: there is no safe level of lead exposure," stated Bruno Pigott, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. "As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America program, these $26 million will help protect our children from the harmful effects of lead. The EPA is also investing $15 billion under 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 impact children's mental and physical development, slow learning processes, and cause irreversible brain damage. In adults, lead exposure can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, reduced kidney function, and cancer.
The funding announced today was authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and is granted to states, the District of Columbia, and participating territories for screening and remediating lead in schools and childcare facilities. Since 2019, the Voluntary School and Childcare Lead Testing and Reduction Grant program has awarded over $150 million for testing and eliminating sources of lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities across the United States.
The grant program requires recipients to use the 3Ts – Training, Testing, and Taking Action – to reduce lead levels in drinking water. The 3T program provides valuable resources to states, territories, and tribes to take action against lead contamination and protect children in educational settings. More information on the 3T program is available.
Further details on EPA’s Voluntary School and Childcare Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program are accessible online.
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 pipes. This initiative helps participating communities identify lead pipes, develop replacement plans, and seek funding for remediation efforts. Communities seeking resources from the GLO initiative can request assistance by completing a WaterTA application form on EPA’s WaterTA website.
Background
The Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated an unprecedented $15 billion for removing lead from drinking water. This funding supports implementing the White House Lead Pipes & Paint Action Plan by encouraging federal, state, and local authorities to utilize all available tools to provide clean drinking water, replace lead pipes, and remediate lead paint. Enhancements are particularly crucial in locations where children spend significant time such as schools, nurseries, daycare centers, preschools, and Head Start programs.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law builds on successful programs like those under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act's Grant Programs to deliver more benefits to communities across the country.
