What’s the News?
The issue of lead in drinking water is a concern that is not going away any time soon. After a recent report, “Get the Lead Out“, completed by the Environment America Research and Policy Center, Pennsylvania received an F for having no requirements that schools address lead in drinking water. This is all about to change.
Starting this year, PA school districts are required to test for lead in drinking water–or inform the community that they will not and why–to be compliant with an amended school code that is part of the new state budget.
Why is Testing for Lead in Drinking Water so Important?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, for many years, expressed concern regarding the potential for elevated lead levels in drinking water in schools. However, there is no federal law requiring testing of drinking water in schools and childcare facilities, except for those that have and/or operate their own public water system and therefore are subject to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Children are most susceptible to the effects of lead, because their bodies are still undergoing development. Implementing a program for reducing lead in drinking water provides a safe school environment that fosters healthy children.
How Does Lead Enter Our Water Systems?
Even though the drinking water from the water supplier meets federal and state standards, lead most often enters into drinking water supplies by leaching from older plumbing materials and fixtures as water moves through the distribution system. A school may have elevated lead levels due to the leaching process in combination with water use patterns.
We Can Help
In order to begin testing and ensure your school’s drinking water is safe, you’ll need to work with an experienced expert. Whitman’s staff includes an experienced team of Environmental, Health and Safety specialists, whose goals are to help protect the long-term health and safety of workers and their families in every environment.
Our office in Lehigh Valley can support your health and safety needs. Whitman has extensive experience in conducting water quality testing for lead, and in development of mitigation plans in conformance with EPA guidelines and state regulations for school districts throughout New Jersey and New York, which have enacted similar codes to Pennsylvania. More importantly, Whitman has the know-how to help guide school districts through the process of educating parents and teachers and minimizing undue anxiety.
Please contact our Senior Vice President, John Beaupre, with any questions or concerns regarding lead in drinking water.
Contact
John Beaupre
Senior Vice President
jbeaupre@whitmanco.com
(732) 390-5858
(484) 542-5697
Posted on August 15, 2018
