The issue of lead in school drinking water has received a lot of attention in recent years. This is because school-age children are among those particularly vulnerable to health and developmental problems after exposure to high levels of lead.
In 2019, the Maine Legislature passed a law mandating that all K-12 schools in Maine test their drinking water for the presence of lead. The Drinking Water Program coordinated the sampling effort using a federal grant to pay for the water sample analysis. Sampling took place during the 2021-2022 school year and was extended into the fall of 2022. To see the results of those sampling efforts, see below:
- Lead Testing Results for All Schools (PDF) Updated 8/31/2023.
- Mapped Results can be found at the bottom of this page.
For more information about the program and the health effects of lead, please refer to the reference documents below. If you have specific questions about the program you can contact the Drinking Water Program at (207) 287-2070. You can also visit the Maine CDC's Lead Poisoning Prevention web section or call the Division of Environmental and Community Health at (866) 292-3474.
About the Program
- Maine Law Requiring Lead Testing in Schools (22 MRSA §2604-B)
- Lead Testing In School Drinking Water Rule, 10-144 CMR Ch 234 (Word)
Health Information
Lead in Water
- US EPA -- Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
- FAQ - Testing for Lead in Schools (PDF)
- US EPA - How to Identify Lead Free Fixtures (PDF)