01E02758

Description: The agreement provides assistance to the Illinois Department of Public Health to implement a program of voluntary testing for lead in drinking water at local schools and child care centers.

Specifically, the recipient anticipates testing:
- 200 vulnerable schools with lead levels above 15 ppb;
- 5,000 schools and day care facilities to be tested; and
- 20% of the taps to require additional sampling (e.g., follow-up post-mitigation sampling).

Activities: IDPH will utilize DCFS administrative rules and EPA's 3Ts guidance (www.epa.gov/safewater/3ts) to implement this project.

This includes efforts to 1) communicate results and important information to the public, parents, teachers, and the larger community throughout the implementation of the project;
2) train on risks associated with lead in drinking water, lead testing, and development of key partnerships to support the project;
3) test using appropriate testing protocols and a certified laboratory; and
4) take action, including the development of a plan for responding to results of testing conducted and addressing potential elevated lead where necessary.

Subrecipient: Competitive grant to provide project coordination and education to meet the following project objectives:
1) Provide education about lead in water and the importance of testing;
2) Provide instructions and resources for lead in water testing in all licensed day care facilities and targeted schools;
3) Coordinate testing with the laboratory including electronic sample management;
4) Provide education regarding mitigation of lead hazards in drinking water;
5) Provide lead remediation/mitigation services including replacement of water fountains and related plumbing, plumbing re-configuration (e.g., adding a bypass from the lead source), replacement of lead pipes/valves joint with lead solder, and removal;
6) Provide follow-up services to ensure proper implementation of mitigation strategies and follow-up testing.

Outcomes: The anticipated deliverables include targeting of disadvantaged and underserved communities, creation of educational materials for ISBE, DCFS day care providers and DCFS field licensing agents, creation of a lead in water reporting template, creation of an electronic mechanism to allow day cares to register for testing, request sampling supplies, and generate shipping labels and chain of custody paperwork, creation of a DCFS-approved lead in water training program, creation of parental notification and public notification templates, and establish an IGA with the IEPA laboratory to ensure an efficient mechanism of lead in water testing and data reporting.

The expected outcomes include reduction of childhood lead exposure and water quality improvement in disadvantaged and underserved communities.

ISBE, DCFS day care providers and DCFS field licensing agents will display a working knowledge of the consequences associated with lead in water, increased utilization of appropriate mitigation strategies, establishment of best practices, enhancement of sustainable relationships at the state and local level, increase in lead and water testing in underserved and disadvantaged communities, and an increase in trust and respect among parents, day care facilities, and state and local agencies.

The intended beneficiaries include Illinois schools and local educational agencies and child care programs.

Illinois Department Of Public Health

5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

66.444 - Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (SDWA 1464(d))

EPA Region 5: Chicago [EPA - RO]

Illinois United States

State-Wide

EPA-CEP-02