BOSTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a total of $2.9 million in funding for New England states to address lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities. 

 

Since 2018, EPA has provided over $200 million across the country to help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water where children learn and play. 

 

"This funding reflects EPA's commitment to our core mission of protecting the environment and public health including protecting clean water, especially where it matters most—in the places where children learn and play," said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "Through common-sense, voluntary programs like this one, and working hand-in-hand with our state and local partners, we're helping to reduce harmful lead exposure in schools and child care centers across New England." 

 

EPA will allocate grant funding to states and territories through the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program. Total allotment amounts for each of the 50 states, D.C., and four territories can be found on the grant website.

 

The EPA is committed to protecting children and communities across America from lead in drinking water. In addition to this grant program, EPA's Training, Testing, and Taking Action program (3Ts) provides information and recommendations to help states and local authorities build voluntary programs to reduce lead in drinking water.

 

Since 2019, this effort has helped over 20,000 child care facilities and nearly 13,000 schools have their water tested for lead with over 1,300 child care facilities and 2,500 schools completing remediation work. New Hampshire leads the country with 360 schools with replaced drinking water apparatus. Remediation actions were taken on an additional 80 child care facilities.