Lawmakers urged to require lead testing, filters in all schools after statewide data shows widespread positives

Advocates, pediatric and public-health groups and state legislators urged the Joint Committee to pass bills requiring schools and child-care centers to test drinking and cooking taps, install certified lead-removing filters or filtered filling stations, and remediate sources of lead when results exceed a health-based standard.

Senator Joan Lovely, sponsor of Senate 631, framed the measure as a child-health priority and said Massachusetts lags peer states on mandatory protections. “Lead is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in the body over time,” Lovely said. “This bill aims to remove lead from school drinking water in all schools and childcare centers in our commonwealth.”

Advocacy groups shared data showing that a high proportion of taps tested in Massachusetts schools returned measurable lead; Environment Massachusetts and MASSPIRG cited Department of Environmental Protection testing showing thousands of school taps with detectable levels and patterns that advocates say require mandatory responses.

John Rumpler of Environment Massachusetts, author of a national “Get the Lead Out” report, said variability in tap-sampling means repeated or comprehensive testing is needed and that a “filter-first” approach — installing certified point-of-use filters at drinking/cooking taps and bottle-fill stations — provides immediate protection while plumbing remedial work proceeds.

Medical witnesses and public-health groups stressed children’s particular vulnerability. Deirdre Cummings of MASSPIRG and other witnesses called for a health-based action level of 1 part per billion for schools, with immediate tap shutoff and provision of filtered water when exceeded.

Equipment vendors and certification experts testified that commercially available point-of-use devices can be NSF/ANSI-certified to remove lead and other contaminants; they urged a regulatory framework that funds installation and long-term maintenance so filters do not fall out of service.

The hearing also explored funding: Massachusetts currently offers School Water Improvement Grants (SWIG) but advocates said grant capacity and an explicit funding plan would be needed to reach all public and private schools. Some witnesses noted recent state grant work but urged the Legislature to appropriate sustained funds and create an implementation timeline.

Committee members asked about costs, certification limits and whether filtration should be the first step. Witnesses said filtration is the fastest way to protect children while longer-term plumbing remediation and fixture replacement are planned. Advocates asked the committee to report the bill favorably.

The committee did not take a vote.