Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been awarded $225,000 for their Drinking Water Program (DWP) to continue testing the water at schools and child care facilities throughout the state.  This Safe Drinking Water Act funding was provided to Maine DHHS by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

“Lead poisoning poses a severe threat to human health, especially to children.  Families should not have to be concerned about whether the water fountains at their children’s schools are contaminated,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “This funding will help ensure that students throughout Maine have access to safe drinking water while at school.”

Maine DHHS will use this funding to reduce lead exposure at schools and child care facilities by testing for lead, identifying potential lead sources, and talking action to mitigate the contamination.