Drinking Water 

Best Management Practices

For Schools and Child Care Facilities Served by 

Municipal Water Systems

EPA 816-B-13-002

April 2013
Drinking Water 

Best Management Practices

For Schools and Child Care Facilities Served by 

Municipal Water Systems

This guide is intended for use by school officials and child care providers responsible for the maintenance and/or safety 

of school and child care facilities including the drinking water. The purpose of this guide is to describe the importance 

of implementing best management practices for drinking water in schools and child care facilities and how a school 

or child care facility would go about implementing these practices. This guide is specifically for schools and child care 

facilities that receive water from water utilities or water suppliers such as cities, towns and water districts. This guide is 

not a regulation itself, nor does it change or substitute for those provisions and regulations. Thus, it does not impose 

legally binding requirements on EPA, states, municipal water systems, schools or child care facilities. This guide does not 

confer legal rights or impose legal obligations upon any member of the public. While EPA has made every effort to ensure 

the accuracy of the information in this guide the obligations of the regulated community are determined by statutes, 

regulations or other legally binding requirements. In the event of a conflict between the information in this guide and 

any statute or regulation, this document would not be controlling. 

Table of Contents

What Decision Makers Should Know.............................................................................................................................1

Bacteria.........................................................................................................................................................................2

Lead ...............................................................................................................................................................................2

Copper..........................................................................................................................................................................4

Drinking Water Best Management Practices..............................................................................................................5

Bacteria.........................................................................................................................................................................5

Lead ...............................................................................................................................................................................7

Additional Considerations.................................................................................................................................. 12

Resources ............................................................................................................................................................................... 14

State Drinking Water and Lead Prevention Information Sources .................................................................. 14

Glossary................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
1

What Decision Makers Should Know

On any given day in America nearly 50 

million public school students spend a 

significant portion of their day in school 

buildings. Exposure to environmental hazards 

in schools can negatively impact the health of 

children and school staff. Moreover, studies 

have shown that poor indoor environments 

in schools have negative impacts on teacher 

productivity and student performance.1,2,3

Schools and child care facilities receive their 

drinking water from nearby municipal water 

systems or their own on-site water system. 

Facilities that receive their water from a water 

provider can be assured that the water is 

regularly tested to ensure it meets federal and 

state drinking water standards, such as for 

bacteria and chemicals.

Even if the water meets federal and state 

standards at the municipal water supply, 

the water pipes and plumbing fixtures in 

your facility can affect the quality of water. 

Therefore, it is important to perform routine 

measures to limit bacteria or lead contamination 

and to implement other best management 

practices for drinking water to ensure your 

school or child care facility is providing safe 

drinking water to students and staff. 

1

 Vinciullo F. The relationship between multicomponent school health programs and school 

achievement. Paper presented at: Annual 

Conference of the National Association of School 

Nurses, 2008; Albuquerque, NM.

2

 Stolz A, Knickelbein, A., Coburn, S. Linking 

coordinated school health to student success. Paper 

presented at: Annual Conference of the National 

Association of School Nurses, 2008; Albuquerque, 

NM.

3

 NRC (National Research Council). Green Schools: 

Attributes for Health and Learning. Washington 

D.C.: The National Academies; 2006.

This guide identifies best management practices 

for drinking water in schools and child care 

facilities that are served by municipal drinking 

water systems to address the following issues:

• 

• 

• 

Bacteria that may grow within the plumbing 

system and hot water tanks, on water 

fountains and faucets, or enter the facility’s 

distribution system (the building’s pipes and 

plumbing) through cross connections;

Elevated lead levels as a result of 

contamination from the facility’s plumbing 

and drinking water fixtures; and

Additional measures such as water 

conservation and educating students about 

drinking water.

Top Five Actions to Protect Drinking 

Water at Schools and Child Care 

Facilities

1. Clean drinking water fountains daily using 

procedures found in this guide. 

2. Clean debris out of all outlet screens 

or aerators on a regular basis using the 

procedures found in this guide.

3. Test the facility’s drinking water for lead. 

If lead is present, follow the actions for 

addressing lead contamination outlined in 

this guide.

4. Evaluate your facility for the presence of 

cross-connections and address any issues 

related to cross-connections by following 

the recommendations found in this guide.

5. If elevated lead levels are found, regularly 

flush all water outlets used for drinking or 

food preparation and install point-of-use 

devices, to provide additional treatment 

of drinking water at the outlet.
2

Bacteria

Bacteria are present throughout our 

environment. They have adapted to live 

and reproduce in a variety of environments, 

including inside animals and humans, and 

in water, soil and food. If harmful bacteria 

are present in drinking water sources, most 

are removed during the disinfection process. 

However, some may survive and enter the 

distribution system (the building’s pipes and 

plumbing). Bacteria can also grow within the 

plumbing system, water fountains and faucets. 

Therefore, it is important to regularly clean 

your facility’s water fountains, faucets and hot 

water tanks. •

•

•

Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act 

A new requirement, signed into law by President Obama in January 2011, will further reduce 

lead in pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures to a weighted average of 0.25 

percent. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act redefines “lead free” under the Safe 

Drinking Water Act to mean: not containing more than 0.2 percent lead when used with 

respect to solder and flux, the material used to join pipes and fixtures together (current law) 

and not more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead when used with respect to the 

wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures. The new requirements 

will become effective in January 2014.

Lead 

Understanding Lead Exposure 

School officials and child care providers need to 

know whether the students, teachers and staff 

consume elevated levels of lead when drinking 

water in their facility, because exposure to lead 

can cause serious health problems, particularly 

for young children. 

Lead in drinking water is primarily from 

materials and components associated with 

service lines and facility plumbing. Your 

municipal water supplier is responsible 

for providing high quality drinking water, 

but cannot control the variety of materials 

contained in the plumbing components used 

within your facility. 

Health Effects of Lead

Lead can cause serious health problems if too 

much enters your body from drinking water or 

other sources. Some facts about lead exposure 

include:

Infants, young children and pregnant women 

are at greatest risk to lead exposure;

Increased lead levels have been shown to 

cause damage to the brain and kidneys; 

Increased lead levels interfere with the 

production of red blood cells that carry 

oxygen to all parts of your body;
3

• 

• 

• 

• 

Scientists have linked the effects of lead on 

the brain with lowered intelligence quotient 

(IQ) in children;

Adults with kidney problems and high blood 

pressure can be affected by lower levels of 

lead more than healthy adults;

Lead is stored in the bones and it can be 

released later in life; and

During pregnancy, the fetus receives lead 

from the mother’s bones which may affect 

brain development.

Example of lead pipes in a plumbing system.

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water

Soft water has a low pH, which is corrosive. 

Other factors however also contribute to the 

corrosion potential of the water and include 

water velocity, temperature, alkalinity, the 

type of disinfectant, the age and condition 

of plumbing and the amount of time water 

is in contact with plumbing. Of note, recent 

construction work on your facility’s plumbing 

system (e.g., pipe replacement and utility 

lead service line replacement with copper 

components) may result in corrosion of 

remaining lead pipes or disturbance of settled 

debris within larger pipes in the system which 

may create new sources of contamination. The 

occurrence and rate of corrosion depend on 

the complex interaction between a number 

of these and other chemical, physical and 

biological factors.

Municipal water systems take steps to reduce 

the corrosiveness of the water. However, if 

the plumbing in your facility is made of lead or 

contains lead parts, corrosion may occur as the 

water moves through your facility’s plumbing. 

Potential Sources of Lead in Drinking 

Water 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Lead pipes in plumbing:

○ 

○ 

Dull gray in color and will appear shiny 

when scratched

Banned since 1986 and not widely used 

since the 1930s

Copper pipes joined by lead solder:

○ 

○ 

Solder will be dull gray in color and will 

appear shiny when scratched

Banned since 1986 and many communities 

banned prior to 1986

Brass pipes, faucets, fittings and valves:

○ May contain alloys of lead

Sediments in screens on faucets:

○Debris from plumbing can collect on 

screens and may contain lead

Water service line to facility is made of lead:

○ Pipes that carry water from the municipal 

water system main to the facility may 

contain lead

Water fountains in the facility may contain 

lead parts:

○

○

Specific brands of water fountains contain 

lead parts or have lead lined water tanks 

Since 1988 it has been mandated that water 

fountains be lead free but older facilities 

may have outdated models
4

Copper pipes joined by lead solder.

Copper

Copper is widely used in household plumbing, 

sometimes without proper consideration of 

water quality. Excess copper exposure can 

cause stomach and intestinal distress, liver or 

kidney damage and complications of Wilson’s 

disease. Children’s bodies absorb more lead 

and copper than the average adult because 

of their rapid development. Copper leaches 

into water through corrosion of the plumbing 

system – primarily from pipes, but fixtures, 

faucets and fittings made of brass can also be 

a source. The amount of copper in your water 

strongly depends on the acidity and types and 

amounts of minerals in the water, whether or 

not it is oxygenated or disinfected, how long 

the water stays in the pipes, the length of time 

the pipes have been in use and the water’s 

temperature. Especially when the water pH is 

below neutral (7) and when the alkalinity of the 

water (bicarbonate content) is high, very high 

concentrations of copper can persist for many 

years in copper pipes and fittings found in 

new construction and remodeled or renovated 

buildings. Blue staining of water, sinks and 

fixtures can be an indicator of extreme copper 

plumbing corrosion.
5

Drinking Water Best Management Practices

Bacteria

Drinking Water Fountains

Drinking water fountains should be cleaned 

on a daily basis to reduce possible bacterial 

contamination. Fountains should also 

be included in the regular flushing of the 

facility’s plumbing system (as described in the 

section Routine Measures for Reducing Lead 

Exposure).

Drinking Water Fountain Daily Cleaning 

Procedures1

The following procedures should be considered 

for daily cleaning:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Gather necessary materials and suggested 

protective equipment;

Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) 

for all chemicals being used and review 

manufacturer’s instructions for use;

Check the flow of the water to make sure 

there is a constant stream;

Spray disinfectant cleaner solution on the 

inside surfaces of the mouthpiece and 

protective guard;

Using a scrub brush, clean the inside and 

outside of the mouthpiece and protective 

guard;

Rinse the mouthpiece and protective guard 

with water; and

Wipe drinking fountain surfaces with a clean 

cloth dampened with water.

It is also important to clean drinking water 

fountains to remove lime and calcium build-up. 

Lime and calcium build-up can begin to block 

1 Iowa State University Facilities Planning & 

Management – Custodial Task Procedures

Lime build-up on mouthpiece and protective guard of drinking 

fountain.

the water from coming through the mouthpiece 

and going down the drain.

Removing Lime Build-up on Drinking 

Fountains or Ice Machines

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Spray descaler onto the bowl and back of 

the drinking fountain;

Use a clean, lint-free cloth saturated with the 

descaler. Apply to the surfaces with the lime 

build-up. Let stand for the length of time 

recommended on the label;

Wring out all excess solution from the cloth;

Wipe the surface clean with the cloth. If 

necessary, use a brush or scrub pad to 

remove hard build-up. Be careful not to 

damage surfaces while scrubbing; and

Thoroughly rinse the surfaces with clean 

water.

For a list of EPA-approved disinfectants to use 

in your facility, please visit: http://www.epa.

gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm
6

Hot Water Tanks 

Hot water tanks are susceptible to the 

development of biofilm, which is a surface 

deposit of bacteria that accumulates creating 

a slime layer. Similar to the plaque that forms 

on teeth biofilms accumulate over time. It 

is recommended that you consult with an 

experienced professional to have your hot water 

tank periodically cleaned to remove existing 

biofilms and sediments.2

A cross connection between a dishwasher drain (copper pipe) and 

a main pipe.

Cross Connections 

A cross connection is an actual or potential 

connection between your facility’s drinking 

water system and other liquids or substances. It 

is important to be aware of cross connections 

within your facility, as contamination can 

occur. Cross contamination from backflow 

of harmful substances may occur as a result 

of reduced pressure in the drinking water 

system or because of increased pressure in 

the contaminating source. Be aware, cross 

contamination may not be immediately 

apparent because a contaminant may not have a 

strong taste, odor or color.

2 National Environmental Services Center, Tech 

Brief. Biofilm Control in Distribution Systems, 

Summer 2008, Vol. 8, Issue 2.

•

•

•

Boil water orders are issued by your 

municipal water system when elevated 

levels of bacteria and viruses are a concern. 

However, boiling water does not reduce 

lead levels in drinking water. Because 

some of the water evaporates during the 

boiling process, the lead concentration of 

the water actually increases as the water is 

heated. Hot tap water also dissolves lead 

more readily than cold tap water. If you are 

concerned about lead levels in your water 

and your municipal water system issues a 

boil water alert for reducing bacteria or 

viruses, you should find alternate sources of 

drinking water until the alert is over.

Cross contamination can happen at facilities 

under a number of circumstances, including:

When a tube or hose from a faucet 

is submerged in a solution, beaker or 

custodian’s sink; 

A pipe is connected from a drinking water 

source to chemical lab equipment, a storage 

tank or cafeteria equipment; or

A hose is dropped into a waste/floor drain 

in an automotive shop, boiler room or 

cafeteria. 

A garden hose creates a dangerous cross connection between potable 

and non-potable water.
7

Other sources of potential cross contamination 

include cross connections between the drinking 

water system and heating system boilers, water 

coolers, lawn sprinkler systems, fire sprinkler 

systems or soft drink machines.

Cross contamination can be prevented by 

using backflow prevention devices that only 

allow water to flow in one direction, from the 

source to the tap, so liquid cannot flow back 

down the tap and contaminate the water in 

the distribution system. Backflow prevention 

devices should be tested annually. If you 

have questions about cross connections and 

contamination, contact the local building/

plumbing inspector or for more information on 

cross contamination please visit: http://water.

epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/pws/

crossconnectioncontrol/index.cfm. 

Lastly, inspect your facility’s pipes to make sure 

there are no leaks or outside indications of 

corrosion. Leaks in your plumbing system can 

be a way for bacteria to get into your water. 

Lead 

Voluntary Testing of Lead in Drinking 

Water

You cannot see, taste or smell lead in your 

drinking water. As such, testing the facility’s 

water is the only sure way to know if there are 

elevated levels of lead in the water.

EPA developed the 3Ts for Reducing Lead in 

Drinking Water in Schools, Revised Technical 

Guidance (Training, Testing and Telling) to 

help schools and child care facilities implement 

simple strategies for managing the health risks 

of lead in drinking water. The 3Ts include:

•

•

•

Lead exposure poses a great risk to young children.

Training school and child care facility 

officials to raise awareness of the potential 

occurrences, causes and health effects of 

lead in drinking water, assist facilities in 

identifying potential areas where elevated 

lead may occur, and establish a testing plan 

to identify and prioritize testing sites;

Testing drinking water in the facility 

to identify potential problems and take 

corrective actions as necessary; and

Telling students, parents, staff and the 

larger community about monitoring 

programs, potential risks, the results of 

testing and remediation actions.

The 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water 

in Child Care Facilities is available at: http://

water.epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/

schools/guidance.cfm#3ts
8

EPA also developed the, “What Your School or 

Child Care Facility Should Know About Lead in 

Drinking Water” DVD available for order from 

the National Service Center for Environmental 

Publications (NSCEP) at: http://water.epa.

gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/schools/

guidance.cfm3

Test the Facility’s Drinking Water for 

Lead

It is important to test all of the drinking 

water outlets in your facility, especially those 

that provide water for drinking, cooking and 

preparing juice and infant formula. Lead in 

drinking water can be a very localized problem 

and can vary from tap to tap. Just because 

there is lead getting into your water from one 

outlet does not mean that all your taps are 

vulnerable or contaminated. At the same time, 

just because one tap sample is free from lead 

does not mean that all your taps are clear. It 

is a good idea to test ALL outlets including 

drinking fountains and water faucets where 

water will be used for drinking or cooking. 

Unusual sources of drinking water, such as 

locker room shower heads and other nondrinking water taps used to fill water jugs and 

carboys, should also be included when tested 

for lead. 

If your sink has separate hot and cold water 

knobs then samples should be collected from 

cold water as hot tap water is not recommended 

for food preparation or direct consumption. If 

3

 Also available by calling NSCEP at 1-800-490-

9198. For International Orders: Call NSCEP at 

(301) 519-6640 or e-mail NSCEP at nscep@bpslmit.com

you have one lever, be sure to turn it on to the 

cold water side. The 3Ts for Reducing Lead in 

Drinking Water in Schools, Revised Technical 

Guidance, provides step-by-step guidance on 

how to properly collect samples and test your 

facility’s drinking water outlets for lead.4 

The concentration of lead in your drinking 

water samples will be reported in metric 

form, such as milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 

micrograms per liter (μg/L), or as parts per 

million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb).

EPA recommends that schools and child 

care facilities take action if samples from any 

drinking water outlets show lead levels greater 

than 20 parts per billion. 

Routine Measures for Reducing Lead 

Exposure

Whether you have tested your water or not, or even 

if you have and your water has shown low levels of 

lead, there are best practices that will further reduce 

the potential for lead exposure at your facility as 

well as reduce sediment in your water.

Develop a flushing plan

•

•

Determine how water enters and flows 

through your facility by developing a 

plumbing profile.5 Consult with your 

maintenance personnel, licensed plumber 

or local water service provider to develop a 

plumbing profile;

Locate all water outlets that are used for 

consumption;

4

 See Section II: Testing of the 3Ts for Reducing 

Lead in Drinking Water in Schools, Revised Technical Guidance, available at: http://water.epa.gov/

infrastructure/drinkingwater/schools/guidance.

cfm#3ts

5

 See Section II: Testing of the 3Ts for Reducing 

Lead in Drinking Water in Schools, Revised Technical Guidance, available at: http://water.epa.gov/

infrastructure/drinkingwater/schools/guidance.

cfm#3ts
9

• 

• 

• 

• 

Identify the drinking water outlet(s) farthest 

from the main water service line (Note: If 

your facility has multiple wings there will be 

more than one outlet farthest from the main 

service line);

Determine the best order to open and flush 

drinking water outlets, starting with those 

farthest from the main service line;

Identify options for collection and nonpotable re-use of flushed water (e.g., plant 

watering); and

Develop a system for accountability, 

including identifying one person who is in 

charge and developing a record keeping 

system. 

Flush all water outlets used for drinking or 

food preparation

• 

• 

• 

• 

At the start of each day, before using any 

water for drinking or cooking, flush the 

cold water faucet by allowing the water to 

run for a period of time. Contact your 

municipal water system to find out what 

the recommended flushing time is for your 

facility based on your system size and piping. 

This should be done for all water outlets 

used for drinking or food preparation.

Flushing, or opening up a tap and letting 

the water run, replaces the stagnant water 

that may have been in contact with leadcontaining plumbing fixtures overnight 

or over the weekend. The longer water is 

exposed to lead pipes or solder the greater 

the likelihood of lead contamination. 

Flushing times vary depending on your 

buildings pipes and outlets, refrigerated 

water fountains can take as long as 15 

minutes to properly flush out the reservoir.

If many taps need flushing, the tap farthest 

from the main pipe should be opened for 

approximately ten minutes to flush out the 

main pipe. Then, individual drinking water 

taps should be flushed to rid stagnant water 

from the pipes. Keep in mind that if your 

facility has more than one wing there may be 

more than one tap that is furthest from the 

water line.6

Use only cold water to prepare food and 

drinks

•

•

•

Hot water dissolves lead more quickly than 

cold water and is therefore more likely to 

have greater amounts of lead.

If hot water is needed, water should be 

drawn from the cold tap and heated.

Use only thoroughly flushed water from the 

cold water tap for drinking and when making 

mixed baby formula, juices or foods.

Clean debris out of all outlet screens or 

aerators on a regular basis

• Small screens on the end of a faucet can trap 

sediments containing 

lead. Note: Aerators 

are often used to 

regulate flow, reduce 

splash and conserve 

water. Check to see 

if your faucets have 

aerators, since not all 

faucets have them. 

Faucet Aerators

Many taps that are used to provide water for 

human consumption have an aerator as part 

of the faucet assembly. Aerators serve to 

introduce air into the water flow which makes 

it feel as if a larger water flow is coming out of 

the tap. The use of aerators is a common water 

conservation practice. Screens are not intended 

to remove contaminants in the water, but may 

trap sediment or debris as water passes through 

the faucet. Lead bearing sediment may end up 

in drinking water from physical corrosion of 

leaded solder and can build up in the aerator 

over time.

6

 Lead in School Drinking Water Program (http://

www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/sclcatlg.pdf).
10

Faucet Aerators Cleaning Procedures

• Remove the aerator by twisting off with 

hands or pliers; 

• One or more parts are contained within the 

aerator. Note the order and orientation of 

the parts as you remove them;

• Rinse the pieces with water and brush off

the debris. For deposits that are difficult to 

remove, soak the parts in water for a few 

minutes and scrub with a new toothbrush. 

Backwashing aerator components is also an 

effective cleaning method for many aerator 

types. Hold removed aerator upside down 

under flowing water to backwash screens and 

mesh filters; 

• If any parts are cracked or broken, replace 

them. If the washer has hardened it should 

be replaced; and

• Reassemble the aerator by screwing it back 

onto the faucet and hand-tighten. 

It is not recommended that aerators be 

removed from faucets immediately before 

sampling for lead as the sample will fail to 

identify the typical available contribution 

of particulate lead from that tap and thus 

additional actions needed to reduce exposure to 

lead in drinking water will fail to be taken.

However, if the results from the initial sample 

are above the action level, you can consider 

taking a second sample to determine whether 

particulate matter is the source of lead. For 

this sample, the aerator would be cleaned or 

removed prior to sampling so that the two 

samples could be compared.7 It is advised that 

a regular cleaning schedule be established for 

aerators.

The frequency of cleaning depends on how 

quickly the debris builds up on the inside walls 

of the aerator. Generally, the aerator should 

be cleaned at least quarterly. If blockages from 

scale or particulate accumulation are noticed, 

the frequency should be increased to monthly. 

Flow pattern changes are an indication of 

buildup.

7

 EPA, Oct 2006. Memorandum: Management 

of Aerators during Collection of Tap Samples to 

Comply with the Lead and Copper Rule. Available 

at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/

lcr/upload/2006_10_27_lcrmr_memo_tapsamplesaerators_10202006.pdf.
11

Follow-up lead monitoring

Water quality changes over time and it is 

important to make sure that the water in your 

facility remains free of lead. Periodic retesting 

of fixtures is recommended.

Respond to Elevated Lead Levels

EPA recommends that schools and child care 

facilities take action if samples from drinking 

water outlets show lead levels greater than 20 

ppb. Any outlet with test results above this 

level should not be used until the source of the 

contamination is found and the lead levels are 

reduced to 20 ppb or less. If you are going to 

stop using an outlet due to high lead levels you 

should place a physical barrier, such as tape 

or an illustrative sign over the faucet so that 

everyone knows it should not be used until it 

is fixed. In addition, you should encourage 

parents to have their children’s blood tested for 

lead if high lead levels are detected in the water. 

Facilities should develop Standard Operating 

Procedures (SOPs) for responding to elevated 

lead levels and administrators or directors 

should be encouraged to communicate this 

information to parents (or the teachers) so 

they can protect their children. The following 

remedies can be used to respond to elevated 

lead levels:

Provide an alternative “lead-free” drinking 

water

•

•

Bottled water can be used as a temporary 

measure; and 

Make sure the bottled water distributor 

meets federal and state bottled water quality 

standards (which are different than tap 

water) and that their filtration technology is 

National Sanitation Foundation International 

(NSF) certified for lead reduction (http://

www.nsf.org/).

Remove sources of lead in the plumbing 

system

These remedies are most appropriate for 

localized contamination problems and are best 

handled by a licensed plumber:

• 

• 

• 

Replace solder joints with lead-free joints;

Replace the outlet or fixture/faucet with 

“lead-free” materials (according to NSF/

American National Standards Institute 

(ANSI) Standards 61 and 372; or

Replace piping with “lead-free” materials 

(according to NSF/ANSI Standards 61 and 

372).

You can search for NSF Drinking Water 

System Components here: http://www.nsf.org/

certified/pwscomponents/

Prior to replacing fixtures when elevated lead 

levels are determined, be sure to test the new 

fixtures to ensure the fixtures are “lead free.” 

If you are purchasing a large volume of faucets 

ask the manufacturer or vender to test the 

faucets with your local tap water to make sure 

no lead is leached out of the faucets. If you are 

only purchasing a few faucets make sure the 

fixtures are certified as lead-free according to 

NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for lead content. 

Install point-of-use treatment devices

• 

• 

A faucett filtration system.

A point-of-use (POU) device is a filtration 

system that can be installed directly on a 

drinking water outlet.

Use a device that is certified by NSF 
12

International to remove lead.8

• 

• 

• 

• 

Maintaining POU treatment devices is very 

important. Refer to the manufacturer’s 

instructions for maintenance procedures. If 

not maintained properly, some treatment 

devices may increase lead and other 

contaminant levels. 

If using a POU device you should do follow 

up testing to make sure the water is still 

below the action level. 

With the use of a POU device, flushing is 

not necessary.

If using POU devices on some faucets, but 

not all, make sure that faucets without a 

POU device are clearly labeled that they are 

not for drinking or cooking water.

Communicate with Your Community about 

the Voluntary Lead Testing Program

It is important to communicate early and often 

about your testing plans, results and next steps. 

Telling parents and staff about your voluntary 

lead testing program will demonstrate your 

proactive commitment to protecting the health 

of your students and staff and build confidence 

in your facility’s ability to provide a safe and 

healthy environment, whether or not elevated 

lead levels are found in your facility.

8

 The Lead and Copper Rule: Quick Reference 

Guide for Schools and Child Care Facilities that are 

Regulated Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, available at: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/schools/upload/2006_1_11_schools_

lead_sqrg_lcr_schools.pdf.

Additional 

Considerations

Copper

Testing for copper may be appropriate if your 

water is somewhat acidic (with a pH below 7) 

and when it is disinfected. Copper corrosion 

decreases steadily over time under normal water 

usage conditions, but elevated copper levels 

can persist for many years in new copper pipes. 

If you are experiencing blue staining of your 

water, sinks, bathtubs or showers or if there 

is growing blue encrustation on the fixtures, 

this may be an indicator of high copper levels, 

and you should have your water tested for 

both copper and lead. If you are experiencing 

elevated copper levels in the drinking water 

system, the easiest method for reducing 

exposure to copper is to flush the system to 

avoid drinking or cooking with water that has 

been in contact with the plumbing system for 

more than four hours. Particularly when first 

drawing water in the morning, flush the system 

by running the cold water faucet long enough 

to get fresh water from the main, which could 

vary from about two minutes to five or ten 

minutes, depending on the size and length 

of the pipes and the flow rate. Each faucet 

where water is drawn for drinking or cooking 

purposes should be flushed separately, starting 

with the faucet or outlet farthest from where 

the fresh water enters the building.
13

Water Conservation

Schools and child care facilities use large 

amounts of water every day for heating and 

cooling systems, restrooms, drinking water, 

cooking, locker rooms, cafeterias, laboratories 

and outdoor playing fields and lawns. Options 

to conserve water for these facilities include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Consider replacing old equipment such as 

dishwashers with energy and water saving 

devices;

Repair water leaks and leaky toilets;

Install aerators and automatic shut-off 

devices on faucets;

Using low-flow shower heads and timer 

shut-off devices to reduce water use during 

showers; 

Installing timers on sprinklers;

Installing toilet dams on older models;

Replacing plants and grasses that require 

a lot of water with native sustainable 

vegetation; and

Using rain barrels and teach the students 

about green roofs. 

WaterSense

The WaterSense program promotes water 

efficiency and enhancing the market for 

water-efficient products, programs and 

practices. Since the program’s inception in 

2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save a 

cumulative 46 billion gallons of water and $343 

million in water and sewer bills. For additional 

information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/

watersense/

Teaching Students about Drinking 

Water

There are a variety of ways to teach students 

about drinking water: 

• 

• 

Early science classes demonstrating the 

water cycle; 

Mathematics classes demonstrating supply 

and demand principles;

• 

• 

History lessons discussing early settlement 

patterns near water sources and our nation’s 

system of government, laws and regulations 

provide important knowledge for water 

resource decision-making. 

Involve students in the voluntary lead testing 

program to make it a teaching moment, 

ensuring that the students wear proper safety 

equipment and are not exposed to lead. 

EPA has developed numerous resources and 

activities for students and teachers, including:

Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care 

Facilities (EPA)

Provides multiple resources regarding lead in 

drinking water, including health information, an 

overview of laws and regulations and guidance. 

Website: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/

drinkingwater/schools/index.cfm

Kid’s Stuff: Drinking Water and Ground 

Water (EPA)

Provides activities and materials for students 

and teachers for grades K-3, 4-8 and 9-12.

Website: http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/

drinkingwater/index.cfm

Water Science and Technology for Students 

and Educators (EPA)

Water-related activities and resources for 

students and teachers.

Website: http://water.epa.gov/learn/

resources/index.cfm

That Magnificent Ground Water Connection 

(New England Interstate Water Pollution 

Control Commission in coordination with 

EPA)

Classroom activities for students demonstrating 

the many characteristics, uses and threats to 

ground water resources in New England. 

Available for grades K-6 and 7-12.

Selected activities are available at: http://www.

epa.gov/region1/students/teacher/groundw.

html 
14

Resources

3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in 

Schools

Provides detailed guidance for schools that 

receive their drinking water from municipal 

water supplies regarding training and testing 

for and communicating about lead in drinking 

water.

Website: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/

drinkingwater/schools/guidance.cfm#3ts

3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in 

Child Care Facilities

Provides detailed guidance for child care 

facilities that receive their drinking water for 

municipal water supplies regarding training and 

testing for and communicating about lead in 

drinking water.

Website: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/

drinkingwater/schools/guidance.cfm#3ts 

EPA’s Website on Lead

http://www.epa.gov/lead/

EPA’s Website on Lead in Drinking Water

http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/index.

cfm

EPA’s Website on Reducing Lead in Drinking 

Water in Schools and Day Care Centers

http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/

schools_index.cfm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

Website on Lead

http://cdc.gov/lead/

National Lead Information Center Hotline:

(800) 424-LEAD

EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline:

(800) 426-4791 

Are You Providing Safe Drinking Water at 

Your School or Child Care Facility?

For Schools and Child Care Facilities With 

Their Own Drinking Water Source

Caring for Our Children: National Health and 

Safety Performance Standards 

Guidelines for Early Care and Education 

Programs, 3rd Edition (2011) 

Provides national standards that represent the 

best evidence, expertise and experience in the 

country on quality health and safety practices 

and policies that should be followed in today’s 

early care and education settings. Chapter 5 

covers drinking water safety, lead testing and 

appropriate plumbing.

Website: http://nrckids.org/CFOC3/index.

html 

State Drinking Water 

and Lead Prevention 

Information Sources

State drinking water programs can describe 

state-specific requirements and provide 

additional guidance materials for schools. For a 

complete list of State Drinking Water program 

contacts and lead prevention information 

sources, see:

Implementing the Lead Public Education 

Provision of the Lead and Copper Rule 

for Non Transient, Non Community Water 

Systems, Appendix C:

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/

sdwa/lcr/upload/Implementing-the-LeadPublic-Education-Provisions-of-the-Lead-andCopper-Rule-A-Guide-for-Non-Transient-NonCommunity-Water-Systems.pdf
15

Implementing the Lead Public Education 

Provision of the Lead and Copper Rule for 

Community Water Systems, Appendix C:

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/

sdwa/lcr/upload/Implementing-the-LeadPublic-Education-Provisions-of-the-Lead-andCopper-Rule-A-Guide-for-Community-WaterSystems.pdf

Glossary

Acidic:

The condition of water or soil which contains a 

sufficient amount of acidic substances to lower 

the pH below 7.0. 

Action Level:

The level of lead or copper which, if exceeded, 

triggers treatment or other requirements that a 

water system must follow.

Alkalinity:

The capacity of water to neutralize acids. 

This capacity is caused by the water’s content 

of carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide and 

occasionally borate, silicate and phosphate. 

Alkalinity is expressed in milligrams per liter of 

equivalent calcium carbonate. Alkalinity is not 

the same as pH because water does not have 

to be strongly basic (high pH) to have a high 

alkalinity. Alkalinity is a measure of how much 

acid can be added to a liquid without causing a 

significant change in pH.

Alloy:

A solution made of two or more elements, at 

least one of which is a metal.

Backflow:

A reverse flow condition created by a difference 

in water pressures which causes water to flow 

back into the distribution pipes of a potable 

water supply from any source or sources other 

than an intended source.

Backwashing:

The process of reversing the flow of water 

back through the filter media to remove the 

entrapped solids. 

Bacteria:

Microscopic living organisms usually consisting 

of a single cell. Bacteria can aid in pollution 

control by consuming or breaking down 

organic matter in sewage or by similarly acting 

on oil spills or other water pollutants. Some 

bacteria in soil, water or air may also cause 

human, animal and plant health problems.

Contaminant:

Anything found in water (e.g., microorganisms, 

minerals, chemicals, radionuclides, etc.) which 

may be harmful to human health.

Corrosion:

The gradual decomposition or destruction 

of a material by chemical action often due to 

an electrochemical reaction. Corrosion may 

be caused by: 1) stray current electrolysis, 2) 

galvanic corrosion caused by dissimilar metals 

or 3) differential concentration cells. Corrosion 

starts at the surface of a material and moves 

inward.

Cross-Connection:

Any actual or potential connection between 

a drinking (potable) water system and an 

unapproved water supply or other source of 

contamination. For example, if you have a 

pump moving non-potable water and hook 

into the ground water system to supply water 

for the pump seal a cross-connection or mixing 

between the two water systems can occur. 

This mixing may lead to contamination of the 

drinking water. 

Descaler:

A solution used to remove and/or prevent 

limescale and fouling on water taps, kettles, 

coffeemakers, toilets and water pipes.
16

Disinfectant:

A chemical (commonly chlorine, chloramine 

or ozone) or physical process (e.g., ultraviolet 

light) that kills microorganisms such as bacteria, 

viruses and protozoa.

Distribution System:

A network of pipes leading from a treatment 

plant to customers’ plumbing systems or the 

pipes and plumbing within a building that 

distribute water to all of the water outlets.

Ground Water:

The water that systems pump and treat from 

aquifers (natural reservoirs below the earth’s 

surface).

Lead Service Line:

A service line made of lead which connects 

the water main to the building inlet and any 

lead pigtail, gooseneck or other fitting which is 

connected to such a lead line.

Monitoring Program:

Testing that water systems must perform to 

detect and measure contaminants. Specifically, 

measuring concentrations of certain substances 

within environmental media (e.g., drinking 

water) at regularly scheduled intervals.

Municipal Water System:

A network of pipes, pumps and storage and 

treatment facilities designed to deliver potable 

water to homes, schools, businesses and other 

users in a city or town.

Non-Potable Water:

Water that may contain objectionable pollution, 

contamination, minerals or infective agents and 

is considered unsafe and/or unpalatable for 

drinking.

pH:

A measurement of how acidic or basic a 

substance is. It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 

7 is neutral. A pH less than 7 is acidic and a pH 

greater than 7 is basic. 

Point-of-Use Device:

A treatment device applied to a single tap used 

for the purpose of reducing contaminants in 

drinking water at that one tap.

Potable Water:

Water that is safe and satisfactory for drinking 

and cooking.

Remediation:

Removal of pollution or contaminants from 

environmental media such as soil, ground 

water, sediment or surface water for the 

general protection of human health and the 

environment.

Samples:

The water that is analyzed for the presence of 

EPA-regulated drinking water contaminants. 

Depending on the regulation, EPA requires 

water systems and states to take samples from 

source water, from water leaving the treatment 

facility or from the taps of selected consumers.

Soft Water:

Water having a low concentration of polyvalent 

cations, such as calcium and magnesium 

ions. According to U.S. Geological Survey 

guidelines, soft water is water having a hardness 

(concentration of polyvalent cations) of 60 

milligrams per liter or less.

Solder:

A metallic compound used to seal the joints 

between pipes. Until recently, most solder 

contained 50% lead. The use of lead solder 

containing more than 0.2% lead is now 

prohibited for pipes carrying potable water.

Toilet Dam:

A water-conservation device that is placed 

inside the tank portion of a toilet to reduce 

the amount of water the tank will hold by 

partitioning off part of the tank.