A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between six government agencies and nine private sector groups was released by EPA October 3 in recognition of Children’s Health Month. The MOU supports EPA’s Lead Action Plan, which provides an outline for reducing lead exposure by working with a range of stakeholders, including states, tribes, local communities, businesses, property owners, and parents.
AMWA is among the signatories on the MOU along with the American Water Works Association and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, among others. EPA’s news release outlines components of the document. The MOU:
- Highlights each partner’s commitment to work to help ensure that children in schools and childcare facilities are provided with safe drinking water;
- Encourages supporting activities that provide education on health concerns associated with lead in drinking water;
- Assists in the development of a lead testing program utilizing the EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in School and Child Care Facilities;
- Helps schools and childcare facilities establish a sustainable and effective lead in drinking water testing program;
- Promotes collaboration in the development of materials, training and tools to assist schools and childcare facilities in reducing lead in drinking water; and
- Allows for better identification of appropriate networks, associations and organizations to partner with to develop communication materials for schools and childcare facilities.
In a statement found on the MOU’s webpage, AMWA CEO Diane VanDe Hei stated that AMWA “is proud to be a partner in finding creative solutions to reducing lead exposure from drinking water in our schools and childcare facilities.”