Toolkit can help parents, teachers get the lead out of school drinking water

Clean water

What should a parent or teacher do to ensure that drinking water at school is safe and free of lead contamination?

Now there’s a toolkit to help them get the lead out. This toolkit, an updated version of which was released on Sept. 12 by our national research partners Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund, includes a factsheet, video, sample call-to-action materials and links to additional resources. It also answers technical questions such as how to understand test results and where to find filters certified to remove lead.

“Many parents had a new water bottle on their ‘back to school’ shopping list,” said John Rumpler, senior director of our national network’s Clean Water program. “Let’s make sure the water that’s going into those bottles is safe to drink.”

A March 2019 report found that lead contamination remains widespread—and that state and federal regulations do not require schools to take necessary steps to prevent drinking water from becoming contaminated with lead.

Read more. 

Photo: A new toolkit from Environment America Research & Policy Center provides parents and educators with resources to help get the lead out of school drinking water, including an explanatory video they can use to spread the word about the dangers of lead. Credit: Staff.

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