Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded $153,000 through the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 66.444) to the State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a two-year project period (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027). Under this award, DEQ will implement a statewide voluntary lead testing program in schools and childcare facilities, conducting comprehensive water quality assessments and creating public-facing outreach materials to educate communities about lead contamination risks. The program will identify facilities with lead levels exceeding acceptable limits and support remediation activities through pass-through subawards to schools and childcare centers for fixture replacement, including faucets and bottle-fill stations.

The anticipated deliverables include publicly posted lead testing results from schools and childcare facilities statewide, educational outreach materials, and replacement fixtures for systems exceeding lead limits. The program is designed to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water by improving staff and community knowledge on lead contamination and enhancing overall water quality in facilities serving vulnerable populations. DEQ's implementation aligns with EPA's 3Ts guidance framework (Training, Testing, and Taking Action), benefiting Idaho residents, particularly children and staff in schools and childcare facilities across the state.