Choose Safe Places: Water Lead Testing
Free Drinking Water Lead Testing for Schools and Child Care Centers
The Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Centers (LTSCC) Program is a free, voluntary program offered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to help reduce childhood lead exposure. The LTSCC Program offers free lead in drinking water testing to eligible facilities, including Tennessee Department of Health (TDH)-licensed child care centers, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) public schools, and TDOE-certified school-administered child care programs.
To enroll in the program or learn more about program offerings, visit the official LTSCC Program webpage. Additionally, you can contact the LTSCC Program Support Team by emailing info@tnleadtesting.org or calling the program helpline at (865) 213-3284.
How Will the Testing Work?
It's easy! After enrollment, participating schools and child care centers will be provided a drinking water lead testing kit with bottles, instructions, and pre-paid return shipping labels. Fill your bottles and mail your samples back to the program’s laboratory.The laboratory will test the water and the program team will provide you with the results.The program will cover the cost of sampling and be available to answer all of your questions.
Why Should my School or Child Care Center Participate?
Infants and young children are especially sensitive to lead exposure. Water can be a source of lead exposure, especially in buildings with older plumbing. Lead can enter drinking water through plumbing materials that contain lead. Testing water in child care facilities is important because children spend a significant portion of their days in these facilities and likely consume water while there.
The State of Tennessee strongly encourages Head Start or Early Head Start facilities and TDHS-licensed child care facilities to take advantage of this free opportunity to test the water for lead – particularly if food, drinks, or formula are prepared on-site.
What if Lead is Found in the Water?
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will provide technical assistance to facilities for responding to test results and addressing elevated lead levels when necessary. Through its mini-grants program, the TDHS may assist its licensed agencies in addressing sources of lead exposure, if needed.
More information on lead and reducing lead in drinking water can be found in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 3Ts guidance document.
Additional Resources
Tennessee Department of Human Services
Child Care Incentives, Grants, and Support
www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/child-care-resources-for-providers/wages--mini-grants-and-more.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
3T's for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Manual
English: www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-11/epa-3ts-guidance-document-english-508-compliant.pdf
Spanish: www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-11/epa-3ts-guidance-document-spanish-508-compliant.pdf