为了加速去除饮用水中的铅，弗吉尼亚州饮用水办公室（ODW）提供了资金，以减少儿童在学校和儿童保育机构中接触铅的机会。ODW 正在征集弱势社区的项目申请，以加快实现这一目标。根据该计划获得援助的项目可能包括拆除和/或更换含铅的饮用水装置、喷泉、排水口和管道材料。这些资金以竞争性方式授予，并以100 %的本金减免（补助金）形式发放。请注意，ODW 仅能通过补助金计划为现有合同项下的补救措施提供报销。

The School and Child Care Lead Remediation Program, developed in partnership with 120Water, is anticipated to launch towards the end of 2026. Additional guidance, application materials, and funding information will be posted as they become available. Please check back for updates as the next grant cycle is finalized.

When a drinking water outlet exceeds the EPA’s action level for lead, it’s important to act quickly to protect the health of children and staff. The steps below outline immediate actions and short‑term control measures, followed by guidance to help you identify and correct the source of lead.

Immediate Response / Short‑Term Control Measures

• Turn off or bag the affected fixtures immediately to prevent use.
• Keep these outlets out of service until follow‑up investigation and remediation.
• When children are present, keep these fixtures turned off until re‑testing confirms safe water quality.

Further Control Measures - Diagnostic steps to identify the source of lead.

• Use lead check swabs (hardware store or online) to test common lead‑containing components:
  • Shut-off valves
  • Elbows and joints
  • Soldered connections

• Review sampling results:
  • A higher 30‑second flush result compared to the initial draw may indicate lead from the incoming line or upstream plumbing.

• If no lead sources are found:
  • Clean the faucet aerator, flush the fixture and retest.

• Evaluate fixture usage:
  • Rarely used fixtures may show elevated lead due to stagnation.
  • Clean aerators, flush, and re‑test to assess stagnation impacts.

• Consider temporary mitigation options while determining the source:
  • Install certified point‑of‑use filters.
  • Remove fixtures entirely if they are not needed.

Permanent Remediation Methods

• Replace any fixtures, valves, fittings, or soldered connections that contain lead.
• Ensure all replacement fixtures and plumbing components are NSF/ANSI lead‑free certified.
• Install certified point‑of‑use filters as a long‑term solution when fixture or plumbing replacement is not immediately feasible.
• Remove unnecessary fixtures to eliminate potential lead sources and reduce stagnation.
• Implement long‑term water management:
  • Routine flushing of infrequently used fixtures
  • Regular aerator cleaning
  • Record‑keeping for fixture replacements, filter installations, and sampling results.