Lead testing in public schools
Historical data from the 2017 News21 investigation. Original values, terminology, empty fields and source notes are retained. These records describe the original reporting period.
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| State | Original chart value | Testing required (2017) | Data point | Map identifier | Sources | Notes1 | Notes2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-al | http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/03/alabama_to_test_all_public_sch.html | Department of Education trying to test all pre-K schools within next three years | |
| Alaska | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ak | Roy Robertson at the Alaska DEC | ||
| Arizona | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-az | http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2017/01/17/more-than-1000-arizona-schools-tested-lead-drinking-water/96527968/ | ||
| Arkansas | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ar | http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programsServices/environmentalHealth/Engineering/drinkingWater/Documents/Publications/Newsletters/Fall2016.pdf | ||
| California | 1 | No | Aim to introduce mandatory testing this fall | us-ca | https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB746 | ||
| Colorado | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-co | https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb17-1306 | ||
| Connecticut | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ct | https://ctmirror.org/2016/04/01/most-ct-schools-dont-test-water-for-lead-but-that-could-change/ | ||
| Delaware | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-de | Keith from the Delware Drinking Water Department said there are no site regualtions, only EPA Lead and Copper Rule | ||
| Florida | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-fl | http://environmentfloridacenter.org/reports/flc/get-lead-out | ||
| Georgia | 1 | No | Bill requiring schools to test is pending | us-ga | https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB29/2017 | Schools and child care centers in Georgia would have to test their drinking water for lead contamination under a bill approved by the state Senate Friday. Senate Bill 29 would require them to perform the tests and remediate any lead contamination by June 30, 2019. If lead is found, the facilities would be required to post results and a remediation plan and to provide them to parents and guardians of children as well as employees. | |
| Hawaii | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-hi | https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/hawaii_response_letter_508.pdf | ||
| Idaho | 1 | No | Not requried to test | us-id | http://www.deq.idaho.gov/school-drinking-water-lead | ||
| Illinois | 0 | Yes | Required to test as of January 2017 | us-il | http://kanecountyconnects.com/2017/01/new-state-laws-requires-lead-testing-for-schools-drinking-water/ | https://www.nrdc.org/experts/meleah-geertsma/illinois-steps-lead-school-drinking-water | |
| Indiana | 1 | No | Public water systems must be tested for lead. Schools not specifically required to test | us-in | http://www.in.gov/idem/6968.htm | ||
| Iowa | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ia | https://www.idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/Files/LPP/parents_qa.pdf | In April 2016, DMPS began a program to monitor lead levels in school drinking water by working with both an outside testing laboratory as well as Des Moines Water Works. This was the start of what will be regular testing of water in all school buildings. | |
| Kansas | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ks | http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/documents/DWR.pdf | ||
| Kentucky | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ky | http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7695CFF9-CD72-4EBA-9D48-062F60384BE6/0/ChildhoodLeadPoisoningPreventionPrimaryCareProviderBrochureJUNE2016.pdf | ||
| Louisiana | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-la | https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/report_lcmr_schoolssummary.pdf | ||
| Maine | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-me | http://mainepublic.org/post/bill-would-expand-lead-testing-school-water#stream/0 | ||
| Maryland | 0 | Yes | Required to test as of June 2017 | us-md | http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=HB+270&tab=subject3&ys=2017RS | Requiring the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the State Department of Education, the Department of General Services, and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health, to adopt regulations, under specified circumstances, to require periodic testing for the presence of lead in drinking water outlets in occupied public or nonpublic school buildings; requiring the Department of the Environment, before adopting regulations, to gather specified information regarding the establishment of lead-free school environments; etc. | |
| Massachussettes | 1 | No | Bill requiring schools to test is pending | us-ma | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/SD1985 | Environmental advocates trying to pass a bill which would require all schools and early childhood centers to test for lead (legislation S456) | |
| Michigan | 1 | No | Not required to test. Bill requiring testing not passed | us-mi | http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(g1bodddh4ztso00wbpkhc2kz))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=2017-HB-4120 | Bill would require local water systems to conduct tests for lead and other contaminants in public schools' drinking water at least once every three years while Neeley's bill would establish water testing and interventions for child care centers. There is currently no requirement that schools or child care centers have water tested for lead | |
| Minnesota | 0 | Yes | Required to test at least once every five years as of July 2018 | us-mn | https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1846&version=latest&session=90&session_number=0&session_year=2017 | Bill gives school districts and charter schools until July of 2018 to come up with testing plans or use one developed by the state. Each building used for classes must be tested for lead contamination at least once every five years. | http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2017/06/new-lead-testing-mandate-lies-ahead-for-schools/http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2017/06/new-lead-testing-mandate-lies-ahead-for-schools/ |
| Mississippi | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ms | http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/23,17370,195,720,html | ||
| Missouri | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-mo | http://health.mo.gov/living/environment/lead/guidelines.php | ||
| Montana | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-mt | http://deq.mt.gov/Water/PWSUB/pws/leadcopper | ||
| Nebraska | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ne | http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Documents/HealthCarePresentation.pdf | Only legislation introduced in relation to lead was the requirement for a lead prevention programme (NEB. REV. STAT. 71-2518) | |
| Nevada | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-nv | http://southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/download/epi/clppp-elimination-plan.pdf | The State of Nevada provides free testing to elementary schools thanks to a federal grant, but testing is not required by law | |
| New Hampshire | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-nh | https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-21-7.pdf | ||
| New Jersey | 0 | Yes | Required to test as of July 2016 | us-nj | http://www.state.nj.us/education/lead/ | ||
| New Mexico | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-nm | https://nmhealth.org/about/erd/eheb/clppp/ | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in place, but no requirement to test | |
| New York | 0 | Yes | Required to test as of September 2016 | us-ny | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-landmark-legislation-test-drinking-water-new-york-schools-lead | In September 2016, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed landmark legislation (S.8158/A.10740) mandating that schools across the state test drinking water for lead contamination. | |
| North Carolina | 1 | No | Not required to test. Bill requiring testing at "certain" schools withdrawn in June | us-nc | http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2017&BillID=H825 | Currently trying to pass a bill (House Bill 825) which would require "certain" schools to test for lead. If lead is found, the school will have to supply alternative, fresh sources of drinking water to students until the lead levels are "further analyzed" and "below the trigger level" | |
| North Dakota | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-nd | http://www.ndhealth.gov/MF/LeadinSchools.html | The NDDoH implements the drinking water standards set by EPA for public water systems which are required to regularly test drinking water taps for lead. However, these tests are not often conducted at schools due to specific sampling site requirements of the EPA rule. | |
| Ohio | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-oh | http://www.uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/AME%20GetTheLeadOut%20Feb17%201.3.pdf | ||
| Oklahoma | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ok | http://newsok.com/article/5539008 | largely left up to the school districts to test for lead | |
| Oregon | 1 | No | Not required to test. Bill requiring mandatory testing is pending | us-or | https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2017R1/Measures/Overview/SB1062 | However, they are on the verge of passing bill which would require school districts to test for lead, post the results of the tests online and email the information to parents. | |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-pa | http://www.uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/AME%20GetTheLeadOut%20Feb17%201.3.pdf | An analysis by PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center gave Pennsylvania a grade when it comes to preventing lead in drinking water in the Commonwealth's schools. Pennsylvania has no required testing regimen for school drinking water, no limits on the allowable lead levels and no plan to remove lead infrastructure from schools. | |
| Rhode Island | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ri | http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.PressRelease.ListStructure/Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31%2D3c10%2D431c%2D8dcd%2D9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=12030&Web=2bab1515%2D0dcc%2D4176%2Da2f8%2D8d4beebdf488 | State law in Rhode Island says the Department of Health is authorized and directed to expend funds from its portion of federal capitalization grants to conduct testing of water supplies at all public schools serving students from pre-K to grade 12 and state licensed daycare facilities in the state of Rhode Island 15 for compliance with all state and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to lead and copper 16 levels in drinking water supplies. However, it is not mandatory for schools to test. | |
| South Carolina | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-sc | http://www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/YourHomeEnvironmentalandSafetyConcerns/DrinkingWaterConcerns/LeadandDrinkingWater/ | Department of Health provides free testing but it's not mandatory | |
| South Dakota | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-sd | https://doh.sd.gov/ | ||
| Tennessee | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-tn | http://www.mnps.org/blog/2017/6/30/metro-schools-leads-state-in-testing-drinking-water-for-lead | Not required by city or state. Metro schools have voluntary testing programme in place | |
| Texas | 1 | No | Not required to test. Bill requiring school districts to pay for annual testing not yet passed | us-tx | https://www.texastribune.org/2017/04/04/proponents-divided-support-school-water-testing-bill/ | Advocacy groups argue the bill isn't strong enough and needs to put more stringent requirements in place | Bill reqBill in place (House Bill 2395) but not yet passed. It would require all the state's districts to pay for annual water testing |
| Utah | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-ut | https://deq.utah.gov/Compliance/compliance/drinkingwater/lead-copper-rule/lead-sampling-in-schools.htm | ||
| Vermont | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-vt | http://www.healthvermont.gov/health-environment/asbestos-lead-buildings/lead-related-services | The Vermont Lead Law passed in 1996 and updated in 2008 requires child care facility owners to help prevent children from being exposed to lead, but schools not required to test. | |
| Virginia | 0 | Yes | Required to test as of July 2017 | us-va | https://openstates.org/va/bills/2017/SB1359/ | As of July 1, schools in Virginia are required to test for lead. Senate Bill 1359, which Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed into law on March 20, seeks to ensure that local school boards test the drinking water in schools and that it meets federal guidelines. Sch | |
| Washington | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-wa | http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/Contaminants/LeadinSchools | Legislation passed to make testing mandatory but no funding provided so testing remains voluntary | |
| West Viriginia | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-wv | https://www.wvdhhr.org/rtia/pdf/1--16-35-2006-WV-LEAD%20LAW.pdf | No requirement for schools to test, but Lead Abatement Act in place | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-wi | http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/254.pdf | Schools not required to test, but statutes in place which give DoH power to investigate lead contamination | |
| Wyoming | 1 | No | Not required to test | us-wy | https://health.wyo.gov/ |