California Awarded Over $6 Million by U.S. EPA to Test for Lead in Water at Childcare Centers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced over $6,000,000 in grant funding to assist the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) with identifying sources of lead in drinking water from childcare centers.

Two years ago, California’s Legislature had passed AB2370, expanding the state’s lead testing program to require testing of more than 15,000 childcare centers serving over 800,000 children. EPA’s new funding is meant to support the testing of drinking water lead levels, the development of Corrective Action Plans, and for technical assistance to those childcare centers that need remediation for lead in their water.

According to the EPA, “Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water.” The amount of lead that may be found in drinking water also depends on the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long the water stays in the pipes, the amount of wear in the pipes, the water’s acidity and its temperature.

“EPA’s grant announcement is great news for all of the California families that depend on childcare centers to provide a safe and healthy environment for their children,” said Joseph Frasca, LA Testing’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “This is also a reminder to everyone that lead hazards could also be lurking in the tap water in their own homes and businesses.”

LA Testing, with multiple California laboratories, provides comprehensive lead testing services for water, air, dust, soil, paint, bulk materials and other matrices. They also offer a Drinking Water Test Kit that monitors for lead, total coliform, E. coli, nitrate, nitrite, turbidity, iron, manganese and pH. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about lead in drinking water that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/2kvtAcpw1MY.

To learn more about lead or other environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access to 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), 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, San Diego and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail