$1.15 million coming to Georgia to get the lead out of school water

The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  is releasing $26 million, including $1,152,000 to Georgia, to help schools and child care centers reduce lead in drinking water. Unfortunately, Lead contamination of schools’ water is widespread. Environment Georgia Research & Policy Center analyzed testing data from Georgia’s schools and found that 45% of the available sample data showed lead concentrations above the standard recommended by public health experts.  

Kids are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of lead, yet most states’ current efforts are woefully inadequate to safeguard their schools’ water. According to our analysis, which looks at whether a state a has standard for lead in drinking water, funds lead remediation and more, Georgia gets an ‘F’ on getting the lead out of school water. 

In addition to funding, parent and teacher organizations are also urging the EPA to adopt a stronger policy on schools’ water than the agency’s proposed Lead & Copper Rule Improvements, which is now at the White House for review. A final rule is expected this fall.

Environment Georgia will now work to make sure that funds are used on actions that will actually get the lead out — such as installing filters and replacing old fountains with new water stations at school.

For far too long, testing has been the main approach to lead in water. And widespread contamination has been found. Yet lead concentrations in water are so highly variable that even taps where no lead is detected can be ‘highly hazardous.’”