Drinking Water Resources for Schools
MDH is involved both in protecting drinking water quality at schools, and in educating teachers & students about drinking water.
MDH also works cooperatively with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Science Museum of Minnesota in staging Drinking Water Institutes for Minnesota school teachers. These Institutes educate teachers about drinking water issues and help them incorporate drinking water concepts into curriculum. The goal of the Institutes is to produce high school graduates who are well versed on drinking water by virtue of having had curriculum on the subject as a key part of their education at several different grade levels.
In addition to its regulatory efforts to protect the water supplied by all of Minnesota’s public water systems, MDH has a program that focuses specifically on lead in school drinking water. This is a voluntary program and participation by all of Minnesota’s schools is encouraged. The program provides guidance to school staff on the sources and health effects of lead in drinking water. Information is also supplied on how to test for lead in drinking water and how to reduce exposure. Additionally, school staff members are encouraged to distribute lead information to parents so that they may evaluate lead exposure in their own homes.
WaterWorks! Drinking Water Institute
The Education Committee of the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association is conducting a series of Drinking Water Institutes for Minnesota teachers. Teachers will learn about drinking water, along with ways to develop the subject into inquiry-based curriculum, at these Institutes. They will have the opportunity to write curriculum to take back to their classrooms.
Reducing Lead in School Drinking Water
The MDH lead in school drinking water program provides guidance to school administrators on the sources and health effects of lead in drinking water. Information is provided on how to test for lead in the drinking water and how to reduce exposure. This program also encourages school administrators to distribute lead information to parents so that they can evaluate exposure to lead in their homes.
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: A Manual for Minnesota Schools (PDF: 114KB/18 pages)
This manual is designed to assist Minnesota’s schools in minimizing the consumption of lead in drinking water by students and staff. This manual is intended for use by all public and private schools in Minnesota. School administrators should review this manual and implement activities to reduce lead levels at all taps used for drinking water or in food preparation. The specific instructions provided regarding testing and corrective actions are designed for school health, safety, and maintenance personnel, as well as any consultants working with educational agencies to reduce lead levels in drinking water.
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: Important Information for Minnesota Schools (brochure) (PDF: 51KB/2 pages)
Children are more vulnerable to lead. Amounts of lead that won’t hurt adults can slow down the normal physical and mental development of growing bodies. Children will also more rapidly absorb any lead they consume. In addition, children at play come into contact with more sources of lead – such as dirt and dust – than do adults. Water Use Patterns at Schools: The “on-again, off- again” water use patterns of most schools can result in elevated lead levels in drinking water. Water that remains stagnant in plumbing overnight, over a weekend, or during a vacation is in longer contact with lead pipes or lead solder and may therefore contain higher levels of lead.
Related Fact Sheets on Lead in Drinking Water
- Let It Run . . . and Get the Lead Out
- Point of Use Water Treatment Units for Lead Reduction
Go to > top.