When New York became the first state to require lead testing in school water, it revealed widespread contamination, a common issue nationwide due to aging infrastructure.
Silvia Foster-Frau reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Since 2014, numerous schools across the U.S. have discovered high lead levels in their water, but only 18 states require testing.
- Lead exposure in children can cause severe, long-term health issues, yet no federal mandate ensures schools provide safe drinking water.
- New EPA rules will require testing but not remediation, leaving many schools without resources to fix the problem.
Key quote:
“Schools are places for learning and not places for kids to end up with a substance that is going to damage their ability to learn and grow.”
— Cyndi Roper, senior policy advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Why this matters:
Schools, with their aging infrastructure and countless thirsty students, have become unwitting reservoirs for lead-contaminated water. Lead exposure can stunt development and harm health, particularly in kids whose bodies and brains are still growing. Read more: Tracking down a poison: Inside the fight for global action on lead.
