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Partners
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with several federal agencies, state drinking water programs, and drinking water associations that represent water utilities to promote voluntary efforts to reduce children's lead exposure while at school. The MOU represents an unprecedented partnership between EPA, the Department of Education, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, National Rural Water Association, and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators to focus attention on testing for lead in drinking water for schools and child care facilities.
The signatories have agreed to encourage schools and child care facilities to take steps such as testing drinking water for lead; disseminating results to parents, students, staff and other interested stakeholders; and taking appropriate and necessary actions to correct problems. The signatories also agree to encourage drinking water utilities to assist schools and child care facilities in their efforts to understand and reduce lead exposure from drinking water.
AWWA published the guidance document Assisting Schools and Child Care Facilities in Addressing Lead in Drinking Water to provide information on the range of options water suppliers can take to assist schools and child care facilities in their efforts to reduce lead levels in drinking water.
- Assisting Schools and Child Care Facilities in Addressing Lead in Drinking Water PDF (51pp, 1M)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Reducing Lead Levels in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
Partnering in your Community – A Guide for Community Partners
The US Environmental Protection Agency recently launched a 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities campaign aimed at encouraging voluntary actions to reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water. Part of EPA’s “3Ts – Training, Testing, and Telling” initiative is a call for civic groups, corporations, public authorities, and the media to join forces in bringing this critical health issue to the forefront.
The Guide for Community Partners offers materials and templates to help your organization to implement a local program of education and advocacy.
By lending your organization’s support on a grassroots level, you can help us raise your community’s awareness of the health effects associated with lead exposure, the heightened vulnerability of young children, and the importance of reducing potential sources of contamination from school and child care facilities.