Pennsylvania schools encouraged to test for lead

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $26 million in funding to help schools and child care facilities test for and treat lead contamination in drinking water. The annual funding is part of the Voluntary School and Childcare Lead Testing and Reduction Grant, which has provided more than $150 million to schools and day cares across the U.S. since 2019. This year, Pennsylvania will receive $958,000. Pennsylvania schools are encouraged to test for lead, but no law requires them to do so. A 2021 report by Women for a Healthy Environment found that of 65 Pennsylvania school districts surveyed, 91% of water tests detected lead. Last year, lawmakers introduced a bill that would require schools to replace outdated water fountains with filtered water by 2026.