3Ts for Reducing Lead in
Drinking Water
Establishing a Lead Testing Program
The 3Ts Checklist
Establishing a Lead Testing Program
The 3Ts toolkit assists you with the steps needed to create a
program to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking
water. Utilizing the 3Ts toolkit along with clear communication
will help ensure a successful 3Ts Program.
Before sampling, facilities should establish a plan on how they
will respond to their sample results to protect the school or
child care facility population from lead in drinking water. You
should consider potential partners, funding options, and how
frequent testing will occur.
3Ts Toolkit
http://epa.gov/safewater/3Ts
Build a team and make a plan! Protecting
school and child care facility drinking water
is a group effort and you will need to have a
plan for who you will work with, how you
will test and how you will address elevated
lead that may be found. Make sure you are
transparent in your communications with
your community. The 3Ts toolkit includes
modules and helpful resources you can use
to implement a successful program!
The steps in the checklist are intended to help you learn about lead in drinking water, develop a program, test
for lead, communicate the results, and take remediation actions where needed. The checklist includes things to
consider in the TRAINING, TESTING, and TAKING ACTION sections of the 3Ts, as well as important
COMMUNICATION and RECORDKEEPING items.
Office of Water (4606M)
EPA 815-F-18-014
October 2018
Communication Plan
Telling parents and staff about
your lead monitoring program
will demonstrate your
commitment to protecting
children and staff health.
Communicating early and often about your
testing plans, results, and next steps will build
confidence in your facility's ability to provide a
safe environment for students and staff.
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Module 1
Communicating the 3Ts
Module 2
Learning About Lead in Drinking Water
'-I Module 3
V — |		
Planning Your 3Ts Program
o
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m
Module 4
Developing a Sampling Plan
Module 5
Conducting Sampling & Interpreting Results
Module 6
Remediation & Establishing Routine Practices
Module 7
Recordkeeping
&EPA
OFFICE OFCROUND WATER
AND DRINKINC WATER

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COMMUNICATING TRAINING	TESTING TAKING ACTION
This checklist is designed to provide easy-to-follow steps. You may not have to complete all the steps or follow
the steps in the exact order presented to have an effective program. Your 3Ts Program should be tailored for
your school or child care facility.

Checklist Item
Module
~
Learn about lead problems in drinking water: Have you made a concerted effort to become
educated on the health effects of lead, sources of lead, and how lead gets into drinking water?

9

~
Become familiar with Regulations: Do you understand current Regulations pertaining to lead in
drinking water? Contact your state to learn more about state guidance or regulations.

9

~
Keep records: Have you developed a record of training activities?
1


~
Gather historical information: Has the school looked into records to learn more about previous
lead testing the school might have already conducted?



~
Establishing partnerships: Has the school contacted:
•	Their Public Water System?
•	Their Local Health Office?
•	Their State Drinking Water Program? Health and/or Education program?
•	Certified Laboratories?
•	Local Community Organizations?

m

~
Assign roles and responsibility within the program: Have you begun identifying people to be
responsible for each aspect of the lead program?
•	Who will be the main contact for the lead control program?
•	Who should create the sampling plan?
•	Who should collect the samples?
•	Who should ensure proper remediation?
•	Who is in charge of recordkeeping?
•	Who will be in charge of communicating with the public?
•	Who will coordinate with partners?



~
Develop a communication strategy: Consider how the school will keep its community, parents,
staff, and partners in the loop regarding school efforts and sampling results.

~
Establish routine practices: Have you implemented routine practices such as cleaning,
maintaining filters, and routine flushing to improve water quality?

~
Maintain records: Are you maintaining a record of routine practices, including:
•	Flushing times and schedules?
•	Filter status and replacement schedules?
1
m

~
Engage with the school and child care facility community: Has the school reached out to its
community, parents, and staff to let them know that it will be sampling for lead in drinking water
at its facility? Include any lead protection efforts the school is already implementing (e.g., routine
practices).
%

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COMMUNICATING TRAINING	TESTING TAKING ACTION

Checklist Item
Module
~
Conduct a walkthrough: Have you conducted a walkthrough of the facility?
•	Have you identified all the faucets and fixtures used for drinking water and cooking?
•	Have you developed a Plumbing Profile for the facility's plumbing?
•	Do you know where water enters your facility?
•	Are there outlets with filters or aerators?
•	Are any of the fixtures on EPA's list of lead coolers that should be immediately removed?



~
Determine whether your facility has a lead service line: Have you contact your water system
to get more information?

r0-°n

~
Develop a sampling plan: Have you developed a sampling plan?
•	Have sampling locations been determined?
•	Have you created an inventory of outlets used for human consumption?
•	Have you established a coding system to label and manage samples?

r°—

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Prepare for sampling:
•	Have you identified a state-certified laboratory to analyze water samples for lead?
•	Have you carefully studied the sampling procedures?
•	Have you identified a remediation trigger?

ro—tK

~
Conduct sampling using the 2-step sampling procedures outlined in the 3Ts toolkit.
6

~
Record samples: Have you recorded all sampling information and results from samples?
[

1
~
Communicate the Results: Have you communicated results to parents and staff? If parents and
staff have been notified, did the school notify the public (e.g., local community, partners)?
%
~
Take immediate steps: If results showed elevated levels of lead, have you taken immediate
steps to remove outlets from service or prevent use?

~
Take short-term measures: Can short-term measures be implemented while longer term
measures are being considered and implemented?

~
Implement long-term remediation: Have you taken steps toward long-term remediation, such
as replacing outlets, replacing lead pipes and/or service lines, reconfiguring plumbing and
installing POU/POE devices?

~
Take follow-up samples: Have you taken follow-up samples to ensure your remediation effort
was successful?

~
Maintain all records:
•	Have you maintained a record of all testing and remediation activities?
•	Have you maintained a record of all communications activities?

1

~
Continue to test outlets regularly and implement the routine practices: Have you established
a schedule to continue to monitoring water quality?
a

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Available Resources
EPA Drinking Water Information
3Ts Links and Materials
•	View the State Map and direct links to state programs and resources here:
https://www.epa.gov/safewater/3Ts
•	View the full 3Ts toolkit at: https://www.epa.gov/safewater/3Ts
•	View print outs, poster templates, and other communication tools here:
https://www.epa.gov/safewater/3Ts
•	View resources regarding the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the National Act grant program
for schools and child care facilities: https://www.epa.gov/safewater/grants
Lead in Drinking Water Resources:
•	Get basic information about lead in drinking water at: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-
drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
•	View EPA's infographic on lead in drinking water: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-
08/documents/epa lead in drinking water final 8.21.17.pdf
•	View your water utilities Annual Water Report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report:
https://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/safewater/f?p=136:102::::::
Lead Resources:
•	View EPA's lead homepage to learn more about lead from different sources (i.e., paint, air, dust, soil):
https://www.epa.gov/lead
School and Student Resources:
•	View Drinking Water Activities for Students and Teachers: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-
drinking-water/drinking-water-activities-students-and-teachers
•	View EPA's school homepage: https://www.epa.gov/schools
Additional Lead Poison Prevention Information
•	National Lead information Center - Document Request Site: http://www.epa.gov/lead/forms/lead-
hotline-national-lead-information-centernlicdocs.htm
•	CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/lead.htm
•	Association of Environmental Clinics Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) site:
http://www.pehsu.net/

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