The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $374,000 Project Grant under the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 66.444) to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS). The funding will support a program to implement voluntary testing for lead in drinking water at local schools and child care centers in Maine. Key activities include:
- Providing reimbursement to schools for the purchase of filtered water bottle filling stations in facilities with lead levels above 4 parts per billion (ppb).
- Acquiring a contractor to oversee the reimbursement program implementation.
- Prioritizing remediation efforts at schools located in low-income areas.
- Fostering partnerships to enhance community, parent, and teacher cooperation and trust.
The intended outcomes are to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water, improve knowledge about lead toxicity, and build community trust. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027. Maine DHHS will serve as the prime recipient and will not issue any sub-awards under this grant.
Generated 3/4/25, 7:18 AM