Help Us Get the Lead Out of Schools and Childcare Facilities

Protecting public health is at the core of what we do at Louisville Water Company. Eliminating the risks of lead getting into drinking water is a shared responsibility between Louisville Water and you. Your participation in our School & Childcare Lead Monitoring Program is an essential first step.

Louisville Water has been testing for lead in schools and childcare facilities since 1989. New federal drinking water regulations now require all water utilities to offer that same service. Beginning in late 2024, we’ll be reaching out to all schools and childcare providers in our service area to tell them about the new program. That’s more than 200 schools and 500 childcare facilities.

Sampling will be offered starting in 2025 and will be completed by 2031. (ADD PDF LINK TO SCHEDULE HERE)

Facilities in zip codes where health department officials have detected higher blood lead levels in children will be offered sampling first. (ADD PDF LINK TO HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAP)


What is lead and where does it come from?

Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful to human health. For decades, it was commonly used in products found in and around homes, schools, and businesses. The greatest exposure to lead is from swallowing paint chips containing lead or breathing in lead paint dust. Louisville’s drinking water does not contain lead when it leaves the treatment plants. The potential for lead to enter the water comes from the corrosion of pipes and plumbing that contain lead.


Why are schools and childcare facilities a concern?

The EPA requires all water utilities to offer lead monitoring in schools and childcare facilities. Schools can be particularly susceptible to higher lead concentrations due to their extended periods of no water use (e.g., holidays, weekends, and fall, spring, and summer breaks). When water is stagnant for several hours or more in pipes or plumbing components containing lead, the lead may leach into the drinking water. Lead can enter drinking water from a variety of sources in your building (see the diagram below). Fill out the Facility Plumbing Profile (ADD LINK to PDF) to help identify potential sources of lead.