Colorado Program Expands Lead Testing and Remediation in School, Child Care Drinking Water
Colorado’s Test and Fix Water for Kids Program has tested more than 62,000 fixtures statewide and completed remediation at facilities where elevated lead levels were found.
More than 700,000 children in Colorado are now covered by a statewide program aimed at reducing lead exposure in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The department said its Test and Fix Water for Kids Program, launched three years ago, requires drinking water fixtures to be tested and remediated when elevated lead levels are found. The program was created under state law and has grown into one of the largest school- and childcare-focused lead testing efforts in the United States.
Officials said the program has tested more than 62,000 plumbing fixtures at more than 4,000 elementary and middle schools and licensed childcare facilities statewide. The department reported 100% participation from public schools serving grades pre-K through 8 and participation from 77% of licensed childcare facilities.
The program identified fixtures requiring corrective action at approximately 1,100 facilities, and the department said remediation has been completed in all cases.
Lead can enter drinking water through aging or corroding pipes and fixtures. Public health officials have long warned that lead exposure can contribute to learning and behavioral challenges in children, as well as long-term health effects.
“Every child deserves safe drinking water where they learn and grow,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “Through the Test and Fix Water for Kids Program, Colorado schools and childcare providers have taken meaningful action to reduce lead exposure and protect children’s health across the state.”
The department said Colorado’s program has gained national attention for its scale and coordination with schools, childcare providers, local public health agencies, and water experts.
