Protecting Schools from Lead-Contaminated Water: State Regulations & Upcoming Deadlines

When facilities find even small amounts of lead in samples of their potable water systems, there’s cause for concern. Undetected lead piping, interconnections, and fixtures are all too common and all too dangerous. And the impact on kids is particularly serious. In recent years, the push to remove lead service lines and fixtures and improve filtration practices has become a hot topic, particularly for schools, as evidenced by increasingly strict state and federal regulations.

Countless news stories reveal excessive lead levels in the drinking water quality in schools across the country. Several states have started taking pointed action to reduce lead levels in K-12 schools, and more legislation appears to be on the way. Are you ready to comply?

The Prevalence of Lead in Schools

Month after month and year after year, reports of lead contamination in schools, missed water quality testing, and non-compliance abound. In just the past year, dozens of states and municipalities, parents, and communities across the U.S. have sounded the alarm after seeing the results of water sampling in schools. The headlines say it all:

This problem isn’t a new one, and the solutions aren’t undiscovered. As states introduce regulations that address this problem, schools must be prepared to comply.

“Get the Lead Out” Measures

As the problem has become more prevalent, the regulatory response has evolved in kind. The 2021 Revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) from the EPA specifically sought to address the risks of lead contamination in schools and childcare facilities (among other provisions). Additionally, the “Get the Lead Out” initiative encourages states and municipalities to keep pushing forward on protecting the water in schools from lead contamination. While the LCR has acted as a significant driving force, many regulations at the state level look to further limit the risk to kids in K-12 schools and childcare centers.

Michigan’s “Filter First” Laws

In October 2023, Michigan passed its “Filter First” laws that require licensed childcare centers and K-12 schools to filter drinking water for lead,1 making Michigan the first state to require water filters in schools.2

Significant grant dollars from EGLE and the federal government have been provided to schools across the state to fund the installation of bottle-filling stations, faucet-mount filters, filtered water pitchers, and more. Additionally, schools must sample their water annually, and childcare centers must sample their water every other year.

The deadline for compliance with the Filter First laws is rapidly approaching:

  • Childcare centers must ensure that all water provided to children is filtered by October 2025.
  • Schools must have approved filters on all potable water fixtures by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Other States & Pending Legislation

While Michigan is the first state to require filters, other states have begun acting to reduce the risk of lead-contaminated water in schools, too.

In multiple states over the last several years, the acceptable level of lead in drinking water in schools has been lowered from 15 parts per billion (ppb) to 5 ppb3, 4, 5 or lower.6 Many states, including both New York and Vermont, require compliance testing on a three-year schedule.4, 6 Several states also require the public communication of testing results to increase transparency and accountability.7, 8 Finally, if water is tested and lead levels are higher than acceptable, many states require the school or water system submit a remediation plan to the state—some as soon as five days after test results are received.6

Other states, such as Massachusetts, are in the process of passing legislation to guide these initiatives and protect children in schools from lead contamination.9

Proactive Is Better

The rapidly evolving legislation—along with the prevalence of lead contamination in school drinking water—reveals the importance of sampling, filtering, and knowing your pipes and fixtures. While compliance is critical, the safety of students and teachers must be our priority. Taking proactive steps, whether your state has enacted stricter regulations, protects students and keeps your school ahead of the curve for the day when legislation comes to your state.

Ready to learn more about how HydroCorp can help?

Sources:

  1. By the numbers: Filter first program to reduce children’s exposure to lead in drinking water. SOM – State of Michigan. (2025, January 14). https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2025/01/14/by-the-numbers
  2. Betanzo, E. (2025, May 16). Voices: Michigan is the first state to require water filters in schools. let’s make sure it’s done right. Planet Detroit. https://planetdetroit.org/2025/05/michigan-schools-water-safety/
  3. House Bill 1421 reduces allowable lead in drinking water at schools and licensed Child Care Facilities. NH Department of Environmental Services. (2022, July 20). https://www.des.nh.gov/news-and-media/house-bill-1421-reduces-allowable-lead-drinking-water-schools-and-licensed-child
  4. Lead in drinking water – New York State Department of Health. New York State Department of Health. (n.d.). https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/
  5. H.B. 21 School and Child Care Center Water Testing Requirements. Utah State Legislature. (n.d.). https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0021.html
  6. Lead in school and child care drinking water. Department of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). https://dec.vermont.gov/water/drinking-water/water-quality-monitoring/lead-copper-rule-resources/school-child-care
  7. RCW 43.70.830: Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings-sampling and testing-data-sharing agreement. Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.70.830
  8. Clean water in schools and Child Care Centers. Clean Water In Schools And Child Care Centers | Colorado General Assembly. (2022, May 11). https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1358
  9. Environment Massachusetts urges lawmakers to “get the lead out” of schools’ drinking water. Environment Massachusetts. (2025, June 5). https://environmentamerica.org/massachusetts/updates/environment-massachusetts-urges-lawmakers-to-get-the-lead-out-of-schools-drinking-water/

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