As states roll out mandatory lead testing programs for schools and childcare facilities, early results reveal a troubling picture — and underscore the critical importance of water quality monitoring in buildings where children spend their days.
Lead in drinking water remains one of the most pressing public health challenges in the United States. Unlike lead paint — which has been banned since 1978 — lead in water often comes from the plumbing within buildings themselves: aging brass fixtures, lead solder on copper pipes, and legacy lead service lines connecting buildings to water mains.
Children are especially vulnerable. Even low levels of lead exposure can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems. There is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Washington State, mandatory school water testing has already identified over 1,100 water sources exceeding safety thresholds. A new five-year retesting cycle begins in July 2026. Across seven states studied, between 13% and 81% of schools had at least one water outlet with lead levels above 5 parts per billion.
At the federal level, the EPA announced $26 million in new funding in 2025 to help states test and remediate lead in school and childcare drinking water. Since the program began in 2019, it has helped nearly 13,000 schools and over 20,000 childcare facilities get their water tested, with more than 2,500 schools and 1,300 childcare facilities completing remediation work.
The updated federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are adding urgency to these efforts. Water utilities must now develop comprehensive inventories of lead service lines and create replacement plans — the most significant overhaul of lead-in-water regulations in three decades.
New York has gone further, introducing legislation to improve reporting systems for lead testing results in schools and directing the creation of a five-year plan to mitigate lead persistence in school water systems.
For building managers, facility operators, and water quality professionals, the takeaway is straightforward: regular testing of drinking water outlets — especially in older buildings — is essential. Point-of-use filtration, flushing protocols, and fixture replacement are proven strategies for reducing lead exposure where it matters most.