Project Grant 00A01712

This is a $336,000 Project Grant awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) under the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 66.444). The grant will support RIDOH's efforts to implement voluntary testing and remediation of lead in drinking water at local schools and child care facilities in Rhode Island over a 3-year period from October 2025 to September 2028.

The key products and services to be delivered include: 1) communicating test results and lead information to the public, parents, teachers, and communities; 2) training schools and child care facilities on the risks of lead in drinking water and testing protocols; 3) conducting initial site assessments and lead water testing using certified laboratories; and 4) developing and implementing remediation plans, such as installing point-of-use filters, replacing fixtures and piping, and installing water bottle filling stations. The goal is to help local educational agencies reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water, especially in low-income areas and facilities serving young children.