Pennsylvania Governor's Administration Encourages Free Testing for Lead in School Water
On March 9, 2021, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's Administration advised all schools and childcare programs in Pennsylvania of the Voluntary Lead in Child Care and School Drinking Water Testing Program.
The program will provide $1.74 million from a federal grant for testing lead in drinking water, according to Gov. Wolf’s website.
The funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act was first announced in February 2020, according to the governor’s website.
This program is part of the Lead-Free Pennsylvania plan, which addresses lead across Pennsylvania and calls on the legislature to increase access to blood testing for children, increasing local response efforts, and planning for training of more certified lead abatement professionals.
The Departments of Education and Human Services sent direct communications to eligible facilities to advise them of the availability of funding and how to access it, according to the governor’s website.
“Testing the water of thousands of childcare centers and schools will give us a benchmark of the work we need to do next for removing lead from water and protecting our children,” Wolf said in the press release.
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) launched the Pennsylvania Voluntary Lead in Child Care and School Drinking Water Testing Program. With this program, eligible schools and childcares can receive free water lead testing and related training and technical support.
Gov. Wolf’s Lead-Free Pennsylvania initiative was first announced in August 2019.
“To build a better, healthier Pennsylvania, we need to know the extent of problems such as lead in drinking water, so it is tremendous to see these grants now available,” Wolf added in the press release. “I encourage our childcare centers and schools to avail themselves of this free program.”
