The Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) is reaching out to area schools to help them find out how much lead is in their drinking water. Lead can be especially dangerous to young children because children and pregnant or nursing mothers are most at risk for health issues related to lead exposure. Exposure to lead can result in delays in physical and mental development in infants and children.
To help protect school-aged children from the threat of lead, SCWA is offering to test the water pipes of K-12 schools served by SCWA. We began this free program last year with seven schools taking advantage of the program. This free program will be offered until November 1, 2019.
With the new school year starting, the Agency is reminding local schools to have their water tested. The test will determine if a facility meets state and federal regulations for lead particles in drinking water.
School administrators (Principals) or School District Representatives (Facilities Management) interested in receiving the testing should email SCWA at SchoolWaterTest@saccounty.net to request a free lead test. SCWA staff will work with the school to develop a testing schedule based on criteria that includes the age of the school, age of the students (with priority given to schools with pre-K programs), presence of a kitchen (where meals are prepared), and whether pipes could need repairs or replacement.
Does the Sacramento County Water Agency service my child’s school?
You can go the SCWA webpage to see if your school sits within SCWA boundaries by typing in the school address in the “Locate your water purveyor."
Parents can obtain the results of the testing through their school’s administration office. The results will not be available through SCWA.
For more information on lead testing in schools, please visit the State Water Board website.
For more information on lead, check out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
