Providing Safer Drinking Water at School

Last year, an estimated 13 million American children went to schools with elevated levels of lead in the drinking water.

The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person's total exposure to lead. While it's dangerous for anyone to ingest, children are most susceptible because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults. Even low levels in the blood have been shown to slow growth, cause hearing problems and anemia, and result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity.

In an estimated 130,000 K-12 schools across the U.S., lead is likely to be found in pipes and fixtures. Without a federal mandate, only 15 states require school drinking water testing. The necessary replacement of lead services lines to U.S. schools is estimated at $56 billion, with a 10-year timeframe per project.

School administrators across the U.S. have turned to Elkay's ezH2O® filtered bottle filling stations to put safer, healthier water within everyone's reach. The ezH2O is certified to reduce lead and other harmful contaminants and has many features that enable students to gain quick, hands-free access to water. In addition to eliminating plastic waste from single-use bottles, enhanced models also offer energy-saving benefits, such as turning off at programmed times.

This innovative product line upholds our commitment to providing cleaner, healthier water and protecting the environment and the communities where we work and live.