Lead Testing in Maine K-12 Schools

Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water

The issue of lead in school drinking water has received a lot of attention in recent years. This is because school-age children are among those particularly vulnerable to health and developmental problems after exposure to high levels of lead.

With the passage of LD 153 (An Act to Strengthen Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water), the Maine Legislature has mandated that all K-12 schools in Maine test their drinking water for the presence of lead. The Drinking Water Program has been charged with coordinating the effort, which will begin in October 2021. 

For more information about the program and the health effects of lead, please refer to the reference documents below. If you have specific questions about the program you can contact the Drinking Water Program at 207-287-2070 or A & L Laboratory at [email protected] 

Taking Inventory

 How To Inventory your School Fixtures

Collecting Samples

How to Collect your First Draw Lead Water Samples

Public Notification

How to Complete the Public Notice and Certification of School lead Sampling

Investigatory Samples

How to determine where lead is located in your building’s plumbing