California Governor Signs Bill Requiring Child Care Centers to Test Drinking Water for Lead

In September, Governor Jerry Brown from California signed into law Assembly Bill 2370 in an effort to provide additional protection for children in child care centers throughout the state. AB 2370, from Assemblymember Chris Holden, requires all licensed child care centers to test their tap water for the presence of lead contamination.

The Legislative Counsel’s Digest of AB 2370 states, “This bill would require a licensed child day care center that is located in a building that was constructed before January 1, 2010, to have its drinking water tested for lead contamination levels on a specified schedule and to notify parents or legal guardians of children enrolled in the day care center of the requirement to test the drinking water and the results of the test. If a licensed child day care center is notified that it has elevated lead levels, the bill would require the day care center to immediately make inoperable and cease using the affected fountains and faucets and obtain a potable source for water for children and staff. The bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board to post all test results received pursuant to these provisions on its Internet Web site and require the department, in consultation with the State Water Resources Control Board, to adopt regulations implementing these provisions no later than January 1, 2021.

Unhealthy levels of lead in drinking water can be a health threat to anyone, but this is especially true for children. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. And effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected.”

“Administrators and owners of child care centers ideally should already be testing their drinking water, but this new legislation will require it soon to the benefit of all children throughout California,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “For those looking to test their water now, LA Testing offers lead analysis, all of the sampling supplies needed and even an easy to use test kit. Results can provide peace of mind or the information needed to allow child care centers to make any changes to their tap water, such as switching out old plumbing fixtures that could be leaching lead into the water, to address any hazards. We also provide lead testing from other all too common sources of lead exposure. This includes surface or dust samples, in addition to analyzing paint chips and soil samples.”

LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video about lead in drinking water that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/1MhhreaWOv8.

To learn more about lead or other environmental testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794.  For access to lead and other environmental test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

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