Maryland
WYPR.org - July 10, 2025
Nearly twenty years ago, Baltimore City schools shut off the majority of its drinking fountains to eliminate the risk of lead poisoning — instead opting to use five-gallon water jugs. That switch has caused a lot of relief, but it also comes with a new set of issues. Baltimore Teachers Union Treasurer Zach Taylor says…
Closed
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This EPA program funds states, tribes, and territories to support voluntary lead testing and remediation in schools and child care facilities.
Closed
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA’s WIIN Act Grant Program funds projects that improve drinking water infrastructure, with a focus on reducing lead contamination in schools. Future funding opportunities may be available.
Minnesota
Marshall Radio - March 5, 2025
Minnesota families can now access a new interactive map showing lead test results for drinking water in public and charter schools, as well as licensed child care centers. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) developed the tool to increase transparency and help parents understand potential lead exposure risks. The map is part of a new…
California
CBS News - January 23, 2025
For the first time in over 70 years, an elementary school in Central California could have consumable water. Grayson Elementary School in Stanislaus County was built in 1952. The school has never had suitable drinking water. In November 2024, the district noticed corroded pipes after a pipe break inside the school. "Back in the fall,…
National
Facilitiesnet.com - January 2, 2025
The potential health hazards that maintenance and engineering managers must address in K-12 schools go far beyond fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Managers also must deal with legionella — the cause of Legionnaire’s disease — and asbestos, which are present in facility systems and materials. Yet another threat that has existed for decades — lead…
Guide/Tool
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This program offers information and recommendations to prepare schools, child care facilities, and states to build a voluntary implementation program to reduce lead levels in drinking water.
Guide/Tool
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This website offers resources about increasing access to water in schools.
Article
Mark Lieberman
In this article, the author provides an overview of water quality and access issues faced by public schools across the country.
Research/Report
Angie L Cradock, Sherry Everett Jones, and Caitlin Merlo
This research paper examines whether there are differences in water quality, availability, and education-related practices in schools with differing demographic characteristics.