Lead-Safe Wisconsin: The Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation Initiative
The Wisconsin Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation (WTR) Initiative works to reduce drinking water hazards in licensed group child care centers and Head Start programs across the state. Interested family child care centers may also contact us regarding our pilot program.
This free program tests for lead in water at these centers and helps impacted facilities to take action by offering free plumbing replacement for fixtures, such as water fountains, kitchen faucets, and classroom faucets.
Why is it important to test for lead in water?
Some old plumbing materials and plumbing fixtures like faucets and water fountains may contain lead. Over time, this lead can enter our drinking water and, when consumed, can enter our bloodstream. Unfortunately, infants and young children are especially susceptible to lead exposures such as this. Children who are exposed to lead can develop:
- Behavior and learning problems
- Lower IQ and hyperactivity
- Slowed growth
- Hearing problems
- Anemia
- Speech and language impairment
Facilities built before 1986 are most likely to have been built with materials that contain lead. Because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in water, testing is the only sure way to tell if there are elevated levels of lead in your drinking water.
To learn more about how lead can enter your drinking water, visit the Environmental Protection Agency's webpage.
To learn more about lead poisoning and other ways that lead exposure can occur, visit our Lead-Safe Wisconsin: What is Lead Poisoning page.
I'm a child care provider. How do I get started?
Your facility can choose whether or not to participate in this voluntary program. You can also decide to participate at a later time if that is more convenient for your facility. Please note, participation in the Lead-in-WTR Initiative is limited to licensed group child care centers and Head Start programs at this time. Licensed family child care centers may also be eligible for our pilot program. To get started, fill out the following interest survey or contact your local public health department if you are interested in participating.
There are three main steps to participation in the Lead-in-WTR Initiative:
Step 1: Get enrolled
- Contact your local public health department (LPHD) to learn more about the program, the benefits of participating, and to notify them of your interest in enrolling OR fill out the interest survey and we will give you the resources you need to get involved.
- Communicate your plan to participate with staff and families.
- Work with your LPHD as they gather information and create a unique water sampling plan for your center.
Step 2: Get tested
- Coordinate with your LPHD to test all functioning water outlets in your facility.
- Receive initial water sampling results from your LPHD.
- Coordinate follow-up water sampling with your LPHD if any initial samples exceed the program guidelines. If no initial samples exceed the program guidelines, no additional sampling is needed.
Step 3: Take action
- Receive your final water testing results and information about hazardous water outlets from your LPHD.
- Stop using impacted faucets. Alternately, post signage to alert staff to not use outlets for drinking or cooking.
- Work with the state program coordinator to schedule free plumbing replacement of any drinking or cooking water outlets that are found to be hazardous.
Positive testimonials from child care centers
- "Thank you for offering this service. We would not have had our water tested if not for this program."
- "It was a great pleasure working directly to ensure the center is free of lead water."
- "Glad the program was available to us and gives me peace of mind knowing we passed."
- "This test is now a requirement for our accreditation. I was happy that it was free and so easy to do."
- "At first I was worried but when the very professional people arrived they just did their job and it took less than half an hour. They only focused on their work."
- "The employee completing the testing was amazing! He was very helpful with follow up needed and second testing. He also provided temporary signage. Wonderful to work with!"
Frequently asked questions
No, if your child care center is found to have elevated levels of lead in water during the program’s water testing we will coordinate remediation and provide an action plan to help prevent future lead exposure.
If you rent your facility, keep in touch with your building owner. It is up to the child care facility to communicate with their landlord about their program participation and to share water-testing and remediation updates as they become available. Your local public health department will provide a letter for sharing the testing results with the building owner.
The only way to determine if a child has been exposed or lead- poisoned is to have the child’s blood tested for lead. The degree of risk depends on the child’s total exposure to lead from all sources in the environment – air, soil, dust, food, paint, consumer products, and water. Such sources can come from older homes, toys, cookware, etc. If you have any immediate concerns, please contact your primary care provider.
Licensed group child care centers who use well water sources are required to test for bacteria and nitrates once per year. This yearly water testing does not include testing for lead-in-water. There are currently no other laws in place that require all child care centers to test for lead-in-water. Safety of children is our top priority so we recommend centers to test for lead-in-water if they have not specifically tested for lead-in-water.
Testing takes place in all, but not limited to, the following fixtures:
- Kitchen faucets
- Bathroom faucets
- Classroom faucets
- Drinking fountains, bubblers, water-bottle fillers
- Mop sinks/maintenance sinks
- Hose bibs/external spigots
- Hand-washing sinks
- Staff faucets
- Laundry sinks.
Our program will pay for fixtures to be replaced if they exceed the EPAs remediation trigger. The cost of replacement will not be billed to you. The fixture will be replaced with a standard lead-free faucet, or a filter will be provided for the existing faucet. Plumbing services for replacement will also be covered by the program. Any other fixtures that are not used for drinking water will be provided signage advising individuals not to use this fixture for drinking purposes.
The time it takes to test the water at your facility depends on a variety of factors. On average it will take about 1 hour to complete testing however this can depend on how large or small your facility is, the number of water fixtures in your facility, and how many staff can come to test your facility. Speak with your local public health department for more specific information that applies to your centers needs.
Additional resources
- Contact your local public health department to get started with the Lead-in-WTR Initiative or to find more information on local lead resources.
- Contact DCFPlicBRLSRO@wisconsin.gov to locate your licensing specialist and reach out to express your interest in the Lead-in-WTR Initiative.
- Visit the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), or the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (WCLPPP) from the Department of Health Services, for more childhood lead poisoning prevention resources.