Kids are back at school. How do we make sure their water is safe to drink?

It's not just Flint or Newark. Parents and teachers are concerned about lead in drinking water throughout the country. And they're looking for steps they can take to get the lead out.

It’s not just Flint or Newark. Parents and teachers are concerned about lead in drinking water throughout the country. And they’re looking for steps they can take to get the lead out.

On Sept. 12, U.S. PIRG released “Get the Lead Out,” a back-to-school toolkit developed by our partners at U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Environment America Research & Policy Center to help parents, teachers and school officials get the facts on lead in drinking water and take action to ensure safe drinking water at school.

“Ensuring safe drinking water at school is not always an easy homework assignment,” said Yana Kucher, Toxics Program Chair at U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Our toolkit will help parents demand action to protect their children’s health.”

In a growing number of states—including Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas and Washington—recent data reveal a high percentage of schools with lead-tainted drinking water.

Check out the toolkit.

Photo Caption: Given that most schools still have faucets, fountains or other parts containing lead (and no filters), the water at your child’s school is likely at risk of lead contamination. Photo Credit: Lisa F. Young via Shutterstock