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With federal funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, the Office of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority launched the Pennsylvania Voluntary Lead in Child Care and School Drinking Water Testing Program.

About

To reduce lead exposure in drinking water at child care facilities and schools, the Office of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) launched the Pennsylvania Voluntary Lead in Child Care and School Drinking Water Testing Program. The program provides free water lead testing, related training, and technical support to eligible schools and child care facilities in Pennsylvania.

To be eligible, facilities must serve younger children (age six and younger), including state-licensed child care providers and public elementary schools. Underserved and low-income communities will be prioritized, as well as older buildings that are more likely to have lead plumbing.

Health Risks of Lead Exposure

Because children’s bodies absorb more lead than adult bodies, they are at a higher risk for negative health effects including (but not limited to):

• • slowed growth and development;
• • damage to the brain and nervous system;
• • learning and behavioral challenges; and
• • hearing and speech problems.

For more information about the health risks of lead exposure, visit the CDC website.

More Information

For more information and to enroll, visit the PENNVEST website. If you have any questions, visit PENNVEST’s Contact Us page to connect with their team and request answers prior to enrolling.