The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new grant totaling more than $1 million to NCDHHS for lead testing in drinking water at some North Carolina schools and childcare centers.

NCDHHS will use this funding to continue implementing its program to test for lead contamination in drinking water at all licensed childcare centers, including Head Start/pre-Kindergarten programs in elementary schools.

The program works with childcare centers to provide education about lead and mitigation recommendations, and they have initiated a second round of follow-up testing to understand the changes in lead exposure over time.

Visit the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website for more information on North Carolina’s lead testing in water and paint in school program and its funding page for recent grant funding.

Read the EPA news release here.