Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Programs

Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Programs Drinking Water Grant

Authorized and funded under the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, SC’s Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant creates a voluntary program to assist with testing for lead in drinking water at schools and child care programs across the state. This will include the prioritization of facilities located in the state's opportunity zones serving younger children (Pre-K, K-5), underserved and low- income communities, and facilities that are older and more likely to contain lead plumbing.

WIIN Grant Fact Sheet

This EPA grant will allow DHEC to launch a statewide initiative to test schools and childcare facilities using EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water.

Facility Survey

DHEC has developed a Facility Survey to allow DHEC and regional municipal water professionals to better understand the layout of facilities that have volunteered to be tested. Questions about this document can be directed to: Debra Boston, WIIN Grant Project Manager, DHEC 803-898-4214 or bostond@dhec.sc.gov.

Online Survey

To complete the online survey locate your school or child care center on the map in one of the following ways:

Search by Name: Type the name of your facility in the search bar and click on the corresponding icon on the map
Use the map: Navigate to locate your facility and click on the Icon (if you cannot find your facility on the map we recommend searching by name)

Once you have located your facility and have clicked on the map, click on the "complete the survey" link located in the pop-up connected to you facility. (If you do not see a pop-up for your facility click on the icon which represents your school or child care center.)

Fillable/Printable PDF

WIIN Grant Facility Survey

Sample Results

WIIN Grant sample results are available here. This page will be updated as additional sample results become available.

The EPA determined program lead remediation level in drinking water samples is 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) (15ppb). When a lead sample is detected at or above this level, we encourage schools and facilities to take immediate steps to address the source of lead to protect children and staff.

EPA's 3Ts

EPA's 3Ts - Training, Testing, and Taking Action - provides tools for schools, child care facilities, states, and water systems to implement voluntary lead in drinking water testing programs.

DHEC is using EPA’s 3Ts guidance as a model to: (1) Train on the risks of lead in drinking water and testing for lead, as well as developing key partnerships to support the program; (2) Test using appropriate testing protocols and a certified laboratory; and (3) Take Action, including the development of a plan for responding to results of testing conducted and addressing potential elevated lead where necessary.

Additional resources on EPA's 3Ts:

Partners

Local Health Departments
Local Water Utilities
School Principals/Directors
School Board
School Nurses, Cafeteria Staff, Athletics Staff, and Teachers
Local Colleges and Universities
South Carolina Rural Water Association

DHEC Resources

Other Resources

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention - CDC
EPA's Lead Home Page
Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Childcare Facilities - EPA
Drinking Water Activities for Students and Teachers - EPA
Drinking Water & Ground Water Kids' Stuff - EPA
MUSC's Dr. Routt Reigart discusses assessing exposure to lead in children's health.

Contacts

Debra Boston - Project Manager
Rob Devlin - Recordkeeping Contact
Doug Kinard - Remediation Activities Contact
Jocelyn Walters-Brannon - Public Communications Contact
Katherine Yon - Website & Social Media Contact

WIINGrant@dhec.sc.gov