Lead in Water Remediation Grant

Lead in Water Remediation Grant is sponsored by Washington State Legislature (administered by OSPI). This grant supports remediation of lead in school drinking water for districts with testing results above 5 parts per billion of lead contamination.

This information reflects the legislative requirements of RCW 28A. 210. 410andRCW 43.

70. 830 through 43. 70.

845 to test school drinking water for lead. Below are FAQs sorted into the following topics: Public K–12 school buildings built, or with all plumbing replaced, before 2016 are required to have drinking water tested for lead. Schools must have their drinking water tested for lead at least once between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2026.

Retesting is required at least once every five years beginning July 1, 2026. Schools must follow RCW 28A. 210.

410 and RCW 43. 70. 830, which focus on sampling, testing, remediation, and communicating about lead in school drinking water.

To meet the legal requirements, sampling and testing must align with these RCWs and with the state Department of Health’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance. We recognize that prior to 2021 many schools used guidance found in WAC 246-366A-130 to guide their lead in drinking water testing. However, the Legislature has not implemented this rule, and continues to delay doing so with a proviso since it was adopted.

Further, this WAC does not align with the new laws or with the technical guidance. Please do not refer to this WAC for sampling and testing guidance. Schools still need to follow the RCWs and the technical guidance listed above, even if the Legislature removes the proviso in the future.

Initial testing is testing **all** drinking water outlets for lead contamination that follows the technical guidance between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2026. Schools have two options for sampling and testing for lead in drinking water: * Partner with the state Department of Health (DOH) for sampling and testing. * Contract for sampling and testing that follows DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance.

Testing must be done by a state Department of Ecology accredited lab. As of July 25, 2021, only DOH or a contractor can conduct water sampling to meet the legislative requirement. If school or district staff conducted water sampling between July 1, 2014, and July 25, 2021, and followed all other requirements of the technical guidance, your school meets the legal requirements for sampling and testing.

The school district decides who to partner with for sampling and testing. DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water program will contact each school district directly to find out your testing plans. DOH does not charge for sampling and testing, but school staff time may be needed for coordinating with DOH water samplers.

**All**drinking water outlets must be tested for lead. The legislation defines drinking water as “any water that students have access to where it is reasonably foreseeable that the water may be used for drinking, cooking, or food preparation. ” A drinking water outlet (or outlet) is “any end point for delivery of drinking water, for example a tap, faucet, or fountain.

” Water should be tested from: * Classroom combination sinks and drinking fountains * Home economics room sinks * Taps, faucets, and kettle fillers in kitchens and cafeterias that are used for drinking, cooking, or preparing food * Ice machines, if the ice is used for drinking, cooking, or preparing food Water from outlets that people do not drink from do not need to be tested, including: * Bathroom taps and faucets * Science room and laboratory faucets * Hose spigots Ice machines, if the ice is not used for drinking, cooking, or preparing food Only cold water sources need to be tested for lead.

Public health experts recommend only using cold water for drinking or cooking. * Samples must be collected the morning after a regular school day. That typically means collecting samples on Tuesday through Saturday (and not Sunday or Monday).

* Samples must be collected after at least 8 hours of stagnancy (water sitting still in pipes) but no longer than 18 hours, unless water is typically used outside of this stagnancy window on normal school days. For example, water may be more than 18 hours old at some infrequently used outlets.

* To meet the legal requirements, do not schedule water sampling during, or the day immediately after, a scheduled break (such as winter/spring/summer breaks, weekends, and holidays) or unscheduled break (such as inclement weather or snow days). Water sampling done at these times do not meet legislative requirements. * DOH water samplers work Tuesday through Saturday and try to get to sites as early as possible, typically 5–6 a.

m. (Tuesday–Friday). Arriving early helps our staff collect samples before school staff arrive and use water in the buildings.

Samplers have more flexibility and can start later on Saturday mornings if all other requirements on timing listed above can still be met. * Ensure all staff, students, and parents are aware of the scheduled day for water sampling and understand that water cannot be used after the school is locked up for the night and until sample collection is completed the following morning.

This may require scheduling sampling early in the morning before staff typically arrive. * Do not shut off water outlets with a valve to prevent use. This is not representative of normal use and may increase lead levels on test results by releasing lead particulate.

Yes, your local health jurisdiction (LHJ) is considered a contractor and you could partner with them for sampling and testing. They may be able to collect water samples and send them to an accredited lab for testing. However, LHJs are not required to do sampling and testing for schools in their jurisdiction.

It is up to the LHJ to determine whether they can act as a contractor for sampling and testing. The LHJ and school district determine how the cost for sampling and testing will be covered. No. At this time, there is no funding to pay for or reimburse schools for sampling and testing done by a contractor.

If cost is a concern, consider partnering with DOH for sampling and testing. DOH does not charge for sampling and testing, but school staff time may be needed for coordinating with DOH water samplers. * If DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance was followed for sampling and testing after July 1, 2014, DOH does not provide additional testing of all drinking water outlets before July 1, 2026.

* If your test results revealed elevated lead levels above 5 parts per billion (ppb), and you have completed remediation (changes to address elevated lead levels, such as installation of filters), you can request post-remediation testing from DOH. However, DOH is currently prioritizing initial testing. Availability of post-remediation testing is based on staffing capacity.

* If DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance was **not**followed for sampling and testing, it does not meet the legislative requirement and you can schedule initial testing with DOH before the June 30, 2026 deadline. To meet the legal requirements, sampling must be done first draw, which means collecting the first water that comes out after the tap has not been used for 8–18 hours.

This applies to testing done before and after the law went into effect on July 25, 2021. Flush sampling (turning on the water and letting it run to remove water that has been still in the pipes before collecting a sample) does not meet the legislative requirement. * Sampling during school breaks does not meet the legal requirements, even if you do pre-stagnation flushing first.

Pre-stagnation flushing is running all taps in preparation for water sampling, then starting the 8**–**18 hours when the taps should not be used prior to sampling. * Sampling done on the day immediately after the last day of school is acceptable. Do not do pre-stagnation flushing in this case, unless this is representative of normal use.

That means pre-stagnation flushing is only acceptable before sampling if your school flushes all the taps every night. * DOH samplers try to complete water sampling before school staff are on site. If this is not feasible, we can coordinate to begin sampling in the kitchen to allow staff to start work on time.

* If plumbing was only partially replaced in a school building in 2016 or later, then all drinking water outlets in that building need to be tested for lead. * If a school building had all plumbing replaced in 2016 or later, then the building does **not** need to be tested for lead in drinking water. Water from each outlet must be collected into its own sample bottle.

Water from multiple outlets should not be combined into one sample bottle. For example, if 30 outlets are sampled, there should be 30 collection bottles (one per outlet), each containing water from only one outlet. Samples must be tested by a laboratory that is on the state Department of Ecology’s list of accredited labs to meet legal requirements.

All testing must be done by a lab that is accredited at the time of testing, regardless of if testing was done before or after the law went into effect (July 25, 2021). Aerators should not be cleaned in preparation for a sampling event. Water sampling is not recommended directly following pipe flushing.

If either of these practices are scheduled, wait at least one week before water samples are collected. DOH welcomes any partnership with Tribal Nations on testing for lead in school drinking water as described in RCW 43. 70.

835. Though state-Tribal compact schools are not required to test for lead in school drinking water, schools can choose to request lead testing from DOH. DOH will work with you to determine how you would like to be involved in the program that best meets your school’s needs.

If you’re interested in partnering with DOH to sample and test your school(s) or have questions about testing for lead in school drinking water, please reach out to leadfreekids@doh. wa. gov. DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water program does not offer sampling and testing for these facilities.

The laws (RCW 28A. 210. 410 and RCW 43.

70. 830) only require testing in public K–12 schools. For resources related to early education and child care centers, visit DOH’s Lead Testing in Child Care Facilities webpage * No. If DOH tested your school(s) for lead in drinking water between January 2018 and March 2020, you do not need to test again by June 30, 2026.

Retesting is required at least once every five years beginning July 1, 2026. **Note**: The action level for lead was lowered when the legislation was implemented in July 2021. Any outlet with an elevated lead level greater than 5 parts per billion (ppb) requires mitigation or remediation following DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance.

Additionally, for a lead test result that reveals an elevated lead level (greater than 5 ppb) at one or more drinking water outlets, the school's governing body shall adopt a school action plan. See the Action Plan Requirements webpage and the School Action Plan section of this webpage for more information.

* If you hired a contractor for testing, check the Lead Testing for School Drinking Water Flowchart to ensure your past testing follows DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance. * If your school district’s sampling and testing did **not** follow the technical guidance, your school must be tested following the technical guidance by June 30, 2026.

* If your school district’s sampling and testing aligns with DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance and meets the legal requirements, DOH will request your test results via email. * For all testing done after July 1, 2014: * Your school is required to take corrective action (mitigation or remediation) for any outlet with an elevated lead level greater than 5 parts per billion (ppb).

The action level for lead was lowered when the legislation was implemented in July 2021. If your school’s water was tested before July 25, 2021, the new action level still applies. See the Actions Needed After Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water webpage for details.

* For a lead test result that reveals an elevated lead level (greater than 5 ppb) at one or more drinking water outlets, the school's governing body shall adopt a school action plan. See the Action Plan Requirements webpage and the School Action Plan section of this webpage for more information. * A school shall communicate annually with students' families and staff about lead contamination in drinking water.

The school shall consult with the department or a local health jurisdiction (LHJ) on the contents of the communication. Schools may choose to use or modify thecommunity messaging template. Annual communication is **not** required if initial testing, or once post-remediation testing, does not detect an elevated lead level at any drinking water outlet.

Refer to RCW 28A. 210. 410 and the Actions Needed After Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water webpage for additional details.

* Reach out to the High Performance Schools Coordinator at the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with questions about the school action plan and lead communication. * If school or district staff collected water samples between July 1, 2014 and July 25, 2021 and followed all other requirements of DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance, your school meets the legal requirement for testing.

* If school or district staff collected water samples after July 25, 2021, your school does not meet the legal requirement for testing. Sampling after July 25, 2021 must be done by either DOH or by a contractor to meet the legal requirement. Regardless of who collected water samples and when samples were collected, water samples must be collected in 250 mL (milliliter) bottles from an accredited laboratory.

The actions you need to take after testing will depend on your lead test results. See the Actions Needed After Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water webpage for more information. _Mitigation_ is taking immediate action to stop access to drinking water with elevated lead levels.

Mitigation actions include shutting off water to a drinking water outlet, taking it out of use, or restricting it to a specific use only. Schools may choose to use mitigation as a long-term solution instead of remediating. For example, schools can choose to permanently: * Shut off water to a drinking water outlet.

* Take the drinking water outlet out of service by bagging or taping off the area and posting a sign. * Mark an outlet as “hand wash only” or “hand wash only – not for drinking or preparing food. ” This is not an option for outlets with lead levels greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb).

Examine food safety requirements for food preparation areas before considering this option in school kitchens. _Remediation_ is taking action to lower lead levels in your school’s drinking water to 5 or fewer ppb.

Remediation activities can include: If you plan to continue using outlets with lead levels greater than 5 ppb for drinking water, they require remediation and additional testing to show lead levels have reduced to 5 or fewer ppb. See DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance to learn more about remediation options. | Greater than 5, up to 15 ppb | Remediation is required.

If possible, stop using all outlets with lead levels greater than 5 ppb and provide an alternative source of water until remediation is completed according to your school’s action plan. Some outlets may be restricted to a specific use only, such as “hand wash only,” until remediation is completed. Examine food safety requirements for food preparation areas before considering this option in school kitchens.

| If your test results come back in another unit of measurement that isn’t parts per billion (ppb)—such as parts per million (ppm), milligrams per liter (mg/L), or micrograms per liter (μg/L)—your results are still acceptable. Because the law defines lead levels in ppb, convert your results to ppb to find out if you need to take action after receiving test results.

Refer to the table below to see the action levels that correspond to the unit of measurement on your test results. You can also use an online unit conversion calculator to convert your results to ppb. Reach out to leadfreekids@doh.

wa. gov if you need assistance with conversions. * School superintendents and the facilities/maintenance point of contact will receive an email from DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water program with lead results about 4 to 6 weeks after the entire school site was sampled.

Depending on school size and number of drinking water outlets, DOH may need to schedule multiple site visits to complete sampling, which can lengthen this timeline. * When DOH tests multiple schools within a district, each school’s results will be reported to the district separately, as they become available. DOH stores these test records for 50 years.

See description and examples of remediation in the After Testing section. Yes. Contact the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to request funding for remediation activities.

The OSPILead in Water Remediation Grantis a potential source of funding. The grant is available in OSPI’s iGrants system. * Replacement of drinking water fixtures * Replacement of lead-contaminated pipes * Water filtering systems for fixtures that are cold water only * Contract labor costs[](https://doh.

wa. gov/community-and-environment/drinking-water/contaminants/lead/lead-schools/testing/frequently-asked-questions) Contact OSPI’s High Performance Schools Coordinator for more information on remediation funding. There are two important steps to finish the fixture replacement process: 1.

Condition the fixture(s). 2. Do follow-up sampling and testing.

See DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance for more information. Additional testing must be done after remediation (post-remediation testing) to confirm that lead levels are within the acceptable range before turning water back on. | Greater than 5, up to 15 ppb | You can turn the water back on and use it for hand washing **only**.

If you turn it back on, post a “hand wash only” sign. To use the outlet for drinking water, further remediation and testing is required to confirm that the lead level has reduced to 5 or fewer ppb. | Though DOH is currently prioritizing initial testing that is required at least once before June 30, 2026, we may be able to accommodate post-remediation retesting upon request.

Reach out to leadfreekids@doh. wa. gov to make this request.

Refer to DOH’s Lead in School Drinking Water Technical Guidance for guidance on additional remediation options. Reach out to leadfreekids@doh. wa.

gov if you need support. For a lead test result that reveals an elevated lead level (greater than 5 ppb) at one or more drinking water outlets, the school's governing body shall adopt a school action plan. You can use the Action Plan Template to develop your school’s action plan.

Yes, an action plan can include more than one school in the same district. The Action Plan Template has this option if you’d like to include more than one school in your district.

The school action plan must: * Be developed in consultation with the state Department of Health (DOH) or a local health jurisdiction (LHJ) regarding the technical guidance, and with the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) regarding funding for remediation activities. * Describe mitigation measures implemented since lead test results were received.

* Include a schedule of remediation activities, including use of filters, that adhere to the technical guidance. The schedule may be based on the availability of state or federal funding for remediation activities. * Include post-remediation retesting to confirm that remediation activities have reduced lead concentrations at drinking water outlets to below the elevated lead level.

You can use the Action Plan Template to develop or update your school’s action plan.