Free lead in drinking water testing for schools & childcare facilities, and free water fill stations (for those who qualify) through MassDEP.
MassDEP is offering free comprehensive technical assistance to assess lead in drinking water at public and private schools and public and private group and family early education and care facilities. Schools and facilities with young children (6 years old and younger) are prioritized for assistance. All public schools and public and private group child care facilities that did not participate in previous MassDEP assistance programs are eligible.
This assistance may include the following activities:
Reviewing educational outreach material about preventing lead in drinking water to students, families, and staff;
Designing and implementing a sampling program for each facility (e.g., developing a facility map and sampling plan);
Analyzing drinking water samples for lead; and
Assisting with the identification of remediation actions to address elevated lead levels in drinking water.
Completed applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Assistance is provided in part through our program partner, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Additional priorities for participation include programs located in lower-income areas, facilities constructed prior to 1988 with a likelihood of sustained building-use as a childcare facility, and communities with elevated childhood blood lead levels.
