Arizona public schools and child care facilities can get free lead-screening kits

Published: Friday, June 9, 2023 - 2:33pm

The Arizona Department of Health Services is offering free lead-screening kits to public schools and day cares for the testing of drinking water fixtures and faucets.

Any public school or state-regulated child care facility can enroll in the program.

Funding comes from the Environmental Protection Agency, which determined lead pipe and soldering may be a significant contributor to lead in drinking water nationally. 

The Department of Health Services said in a press release that it has not found drinking water to be the cause of elevated blood-levels of lead in children. 

The state health department started offering testing services to charter schools two years ago. It has worked with nine schools out of 221 tested to lower lead levels.

Schools can sign up with a survey. 

Education Science