Families Can Now See If Drinking Water Is Safe In Any Minnesota School
When parents across Minnesota send their kids to schools and childcare centers across the state, you trust that the facilities are safely providing basic necessities while kids are under their care.
One example is easy access to drinking water throughout the day, and while all schools and childcare centers do provide water, there is rising concern lately of whether or not the water is safe to drink or if it may contain lead.
Homes and facilities built before 1940 may have lead service lines (the pipes connecting the house to the water main), which are a significant source of lead contamination. Meanwhile, those built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solder, which can leach lead into the water.
However, while older constructions are more likely to lead issues, the lead solder used to join copper pipes can be a source of lead contamination in new constructions, so regarding schools and childcare centers, it's important to regularly test for lead contamination.
Recent Minnesota Law Requires Lead Testing To Include Childcare Centers
According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), since 2017, Minnesota law has required public and charter schools to test for lead in drinking water every five years and to make their test results available to the public.
However, as of July 1, 2024, a new law required licensed childcare centers to begin testing drinking water for lead too, and now both schools and childcare centers must report their test results to the MDH.
Testing for lead in drinking water in schools and childcare centers is crucial because water usage patterns that cause water to remain in pipes during long breaks and closures can cause elevated lead levels in water.
Elevated blood lead levels in young children are linked with adverse health effects, including learning and behavior problems. Elevated blood lead levels are rarely caused by drinking water alone, however, as most elevated blood lead levels in Minnesota are caused by exposure to lead paint and dust.
Regardless, Minnesota families are likely very interested to know the results of these lead tests to make sure there aren't any troubling results with the water their kids are drinking.
The Minnesota Department of Health has stepped up with a new tool that allows everyone to see how all schools and childcare centers are performing.
New Interactive Map Shares Results Of Lead In Drinking Water Tests
The MDH recently announced that it had created a new, interactive map that shows families how much lead, if any, has been detected in the drinking water at all public and charter schools and at licensed child care centers.
The map also fulfills a reporting requirement of the new law. It's important to note that the map is not yet fully populated with test data because the sites are at different points in their testing cycles.
For example, a school that last tested in 2022 would not be due to test again until 2027 and would report at that time. However, if a new test is not yet on the map, the most recent test results from a specific school or childcare center should be available directly from the site upon request.
Initial Reported Results Of Drinking Water Tests
The MDH says that of the first 190 schools and child care centers that have reported results, no lead was detected in 76% of the drinking water fixtures (sinks, fountains, etc.) tested.
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Furthermore, less than 5% of fixtures had a lead level of 5 parts per billion (ppb) or more, which is the level at which the fixture must be shut off until corrective action is taken and a follow-up test ensures that the water is safe to drink.
You can access the new interactive map tool through the link above. The map allows families to search for schools or childcare centers by name. It will be interesting to see the results as more schools and childcare centers report test results from different parts of the state.
Lastly, schools and childcare centers are urged to check their testing schedule and report results to MDH as required.
These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota
- Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
- Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
- Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
- Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.
Gallery Credit: David Drew
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