Testing Drinking Water for Lead in Public Schools: 2023-2024
The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act) addresses, supports, and improves America’s drinking water infrastructure, and federal grant funds from the WIIN Act have been used to develop a program to test drinking water for lead at Rhode Island schools. This program is a collaboration between the URI Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program, the RI Department of Health (RIDOH), and the RI Department of Education (RIDE).
Sampling results from participating schools will be complied and posted on the RI Department of Health website. Sampling results will help guide the recommendations provided in the final report.
Drinking water is usually not a primary source of lead exposure, but no level of lead is considered safe. So, it is important to reduce all sources. The tabs below provide links to many useful resources for school staff, parents, community members, and others to ensure that drinking water in schools is free of lead.
Resources for Schools
These files can be downloaded and printed:
- Danger – Non-potable water Do not drink (with faucet image)
- Do not drink (with water fountain image)
- Sign for kitchen sink – for reducing lead in food and drink
- Hand wash only (text only)
- Hand wash only (text and image)
- Hand wash only (text in Spanish with image)
- Public notice – do not drink, 2 signs, 1 English, 1 Spanish
Links to sources for purchasing signs (inclusion here is NOT a recommendation, but rather meant to reduce the search effort for sources):
Hand wash only – 9″ x 3″ – $2.45 each: https://www.acemart.com/furnishings/signage/door-and-wall-signs/tablecraft-394554-9-x-3-black-plastic-hand-wash-only-sign/TBL394554?gclid=CNah_ZDPs9ICFZpLDQodrk8HdQ
Assorted non-potable signs:
- https://www.compliancesigns.com/products/environmental/potable-and-nonpotable-water-signs
- http://www.safetysign.com/non-potable-water-signs
Assorted hand wash only signs:
- https://www.compliancesigns.com/search/go#w=hand%20wash%20only
- https://www.safetysign.com/search?keywords=hand+wash+only
“This is a hand washing sink only” – Options include aluminum, plastic and decals of various sizes: https://www.compliancesigns.com/NHEP-9596.shtml
Hand wash only – in Spanish – Options include aluminum, plastic and decals of various sizes: https://www.compliancesigns.com/ONS-9596.shtml
Hand wash only – with English and Spanish on one sign: http://www.mydoorsign.com/bilingual-hand-washing-only-solamente-para-lavar-manos-sign/sku-s-6009
Do not drink – in Spanish – Options include aluminum, plastic and decals of various sizes: https://www.compliancesigns.com/ANS-2161.shtml
Do not drink the water caution signs – plastic, decals and magnetic versions available: https://www.signstoyou.com/custom-signs/safety-signs/non-potable-water/s-874/
Non-potable water – with English and Spanish on one sign: