By Ben Burstein Capital News Service RICHMOND — Over 5,000 child care facilities around the state must start testing their drinking water for lead or use bottled water under a bill approved by the Virginia Senate.
SB 1622, introduced by Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, would require licensed child care facilities and other programs that serve preschoolers to implement a plan to test their potable water to ensure lead levels do not exceed 15 parts per billion.
The high priority sources of lead come from drinking fountains and various sinks and faucets, according to the bill.
Older infrastructure has a higher risk of lead contamination due to lead pipes that were used until the 1980s.
Child care centers are required to notify parents of children if they decide not to perform testing.
The Virginia Department of Health estimated that each facility has three to 15 water sources to test.
High levels of lead in blood or prolonged exposure can affect the nervous system and cause developmental problems and learning disabilities, according to the VDH.
State outreach has cranked up in recent years to help raise awareness about lead in drinking water.
The VDH created the “3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities” to guide school officials to “train, test, and take action” if lead is detected in the water.
Maribeth Brewster, director of the office of communications for VDH, declined to provide comment on the story, citing the ongoing legislative process.