Evaluating Lead Levels in Potable Water at Indigenous Educational Institutions
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated a new project aimed at identifying schools on tribal lands in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9) that may have lead in their drinking water. This Testing for Lead in Drinking Water at Tribal Schools Project is a collaborative effort between EPA, tribal governments, schools, and water utilities.
The project is voluntary and open to schools that serve drinking water on a regular basis to children, have not already been sampled, are located on tribal lands in EPA Region 9, and have leadership support for participation.
To ensure accurate data collection and reliable recommendations, schools choosing to be sampled must follow the sampling procedures outlined by the Quality Assurance Project Plan. These procedures include pre-sampling, sampling, and next steps.
Before sampling, schools are required to complete a questionnaire and inventory form, which can be found on the EPA website along with instructions for their completion. The pre-sampling procedures involve not using the water for a certain period before sampling.
Sampling involves collecting water samples from various points in the school's water system. Samples must be returned to the lab within 2 weeks of sampling.
If an eligible school chooses to be sampled, they will undergo initial sampling, which will be 'first draw' samples with 6 - 36 hours of stagnation. The number of samples taken at each site is limited.
The primary school contact for receiving results is provided, as well as contact information for technical consultation regarding lead in drinking water sampling and guidance. The contact person for EPA Region 9 Tribal Drinking Water Program is Nancy Sockabasin, who can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 972-3772.
The project includes lab analysis for facilities not typically sampled to determine lead concentrations in drinking water and to provide education and assistance to reduce lead exposure. Additionally, the project aims to provide further outreach regarding lead in children's health and environmental children's health issues through a different contact.
Related resources for the project include the Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside (DWTSA) Program, a project flyer on Lead in Tribal School Drinking Water, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water, Safe Drinking Water on Tribal Lands, the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program, and the PFAS Drinking Water Sampling Project.
For more information and documents such as a Fact Sheet, Pre-Sampling Questionnaire and Drinking Water Tap Inventory, Directions for Sampling, and Directions for Drinking Water Tap Inventory, please visit the EPA website.
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