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State releases first results of comprehensive lead testing

Submitted by tim on

Vermont Business Magazine The first results of a statewide effort to test drinking water for lead at schools and child care facilities are detailed on a new website created by the Department of Environmental Conservation (see list below). Approximately 440 public and independent schools, and more than 1,200 licensed or registered child care facilities are due to test every tap used for drinking or cooking before December 2020.

When lead is detected at or above four parts per billion, the school or child care provider is required to stop using those taps for drinking or cooking, and take corrective action to reduce the amount of lead in the water as required by Act 66, which was signed into law by Governor Phil Scott in June.

Health Commissioner Dr Mark Levine and Governor Scott at a press conference Wednesday. Facebook screen shot. Click image to watch.

“Two months later, we are publicly tracking the first results of and the corrective actions,” said Governor Scott. “The extensive collaboration among several state agencies to protect Vermont’s children from exposure to lead in drinking water is well worth the effort. We are working not only to protect the health of our children, but to promote their future success as well.”

Reducing children’s exposure to lead is a top public health priority. In 2018, 420 children under the age of six were poisoned by lead in Vermont. Paint is a major source of lead poisoning, but lead in older plumbing and fixtures can add to a child’s overall lead exposure. Beyond the home, children spend a lot of time at school and at child care.

“Lead is a neurotoxin, and children are at special risk because their bodies absorb lead more easily than adults,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. “Exposure to lead can slow down a child’s physical growth, and cause developmental, learning and behavior problems. That’s why this project is worthy of the tremendous amount of work required by all involved.” 

The testing project is led by the Health Department in collaboration with the Department for Children and Families/Child Development Division, the Agency of Education, and the Agency of Natural Resources/ Department of Environmental Conservation.

So far, results for around 300 childcare locations and five schools have had their facilities tested. As testing proceeds for the child cares this summer and for the rest of the schools beginning in this fall, test results and corrective actions will be updated.

“We’ve organized the website to be very user-friendly for families and interested community members, searchable by individual school, child care and town, and we are working with the Health Department to guide remediation when needed,” said Secretary of Natural Resources Julie Moore. “Many of the fixes are relatively easy and low cost – and they are effective at reducing lead levels.”

Act 66 builds upon a pilot project conducted by the Health Department with 16 schools during the 2017-2018 school year to voluntarily test every tap used for drinking or cooking. Lead was found at detectable levels in all participating schools, and about a third had at least one tap above the EPA’s federal action level of 15 parts per billion.   

School or Child Care Town Type
4 Corners Childrens Center Hartland Child Care
ABC & LOL Child Care Center & Preschool St. Johnsbury Child Care
ABC Academy Milton Child Care
Adventures In Early Learning Shelburne Child Care
Adventures in Learning Childcare Center Colchester Child Care
Allen, Danielle Eden Child Care
Allen, Kathleen Rutland Child Care
Amazing Spaces Child Care Highgate Child Care
Anderson, Chelsie Plainfield Child Care
Anderson, Janelle Barre Child Care
Andrews, Megan Richmond Child Care
Annettes Preschool Hinesburg Child Care
Appletree Learning Centers Stowe Child Care
Arlington Area Child Care, Inc Arlington Child Care
Armell, Heather Monkton Child Care
Audet, Cheryl Johnson Child Care
Aurora Day Care Wilder Child Care
Babble On Day Care, Incorporated White River Junction Child Care
Baby Steps Childcare Proctor Child Care
Bailey, Dawn Hardwick Child Care
Baker, Donna Newport Child Care
Ballou, Wendy Bennington Child Care
Barre Town Elementary School Barre School
Batstone, Amira Underhill Child Care
Beattie, Kelsey Windsor Child Care
Beaudin, Teresa Barre Child Care
Bedard, Tina Orange Child Care
Bellows Free Academy St. Albans School
Benner, Donita North Springfield Child Care
Berger, Sommer Milton Child Care
Berquist, Jennifer Springfield Child Care
Berteau, Kimberly Williston Child Care
Bethel, Alicia Rutland Child Care
Bigelow, Beth Lyndonville Child Care
Birge Nest, le Brattleboro Child Care
Bixby, Kathleen Ludlow Child Care
Blake, Apryl Weathersfield Child Care
Blake, Debra Williamstown Child Care
Blanchard, Barbie Rutland Town Child Care
Blanchard, Jody Williston Child Care
Blanchard, Maureen Beecher Falls Child Care
Blay, Christina Troy Child Care
Bliss, Jennifer Barre Child Care
Blood, Patricia Shelburne Child Care
Bombard, Jennifer Duxbury Child Care
Bouchard, Marie Carmen Troy Child Care
Boudro, Sherry Windsor Child Care
Bouffard, Priscilla Essex Junction Child Care
Bougor, Christy Essex Junction Child Care
Boulay-Sidney, Anita St. Johnsbury Child Care
Bourn, Jean Bennington Child Care
Bradley, Cynthia Charlotte Child Care
Brady, Rose Middlebury Child Care
Brattleboro Centre for Children Brattleboro Child Care
Brennan , Janelle Barre Child Care
Brooks, Sandra Essex Child Care
Building Blocks Playschool Colchester Child Care
Burlington Forest Preschool L3C Burlington Child Care
Burlock, Evelyn Vergennes Child Care
Busch, Katherine Jericho Child Care
Butler, Karen North Bennington Child Care
Butler, Laura Milton Child Care
Cahoon, Nicole St. Johnsbury Child Care
Caldwell, Peggy Barre Child Care
Camp LOL St. Johnsbury Child Care
Camp Maple Street Essex Junction Child Care
Cano-Scribner, Tracy East Montpelier Child Care
Capstone Learning Together Center @ Brook Street Barre City Child Care
Care Bear Day Care Center East Hardwick Child Care
Carolyns Red Balloon Colchester Child Care
Charland, Tammy Derby Child Care
Charles, Rachael Fair Haven Child Care
Cheeseman, Eleanor St. Albans Child Care
Clark, Amanda Proctorsville Child Care
Clifford, Deborah Hardwick Child Care
Clubhouse Kids Morrisville Child Care
Cole, Holly Springfield Child Care
Collins, Ammie Fairlee Child Care
Conley, Theresa Burlington Child Care
Corrow, Beverley Morrisville Child Care
Craftsbury Saplings Craftsbury Child Care
Creative Hands Learning Center Milton Child Care
CU2 ChildCare (Children Unlimited) Williston Child Care
Cubs Child Care Stowe Child Care
Cupcake Daycare South Burlington Child Care
Cushing, Mary St. Albans Child Care
Davis, Amber West Burke Child Care
Delaricheliere, Lisa East Hardwick Child Care
Desilets, Kerry Barre Child Care
Dewey, Melanie Randolph Child Care
Donahue, Lyndsay Rutland Child Care
Dougherty, Kendra Fair Haven Child Care
Driver, Sheila Derby Child Care
Duprey, Kimberly East Montpelier Child Care
Early Learning Center @ St Michaels College Colchester Child Care
EJRP Preschool Essex Junction Child Care
Fairfield Center School Fairfield School
Farrand, Robin Morrisville Child Care
Fleurie, Lori West Danville Child Care
Freedom Rains Colchester Child Care
Frog & Toad Child Care & Learning Center Essex Junction Child Care
Garcia, Kelly White River Junction Child Care
Gilbeau, Mary Brattleboro Child Care
Gilcris, Michelle Barton Child Care
Hackett, Kelley Jo Waterbury Center Child Care
Hand In Hand Creative Learning Center Essex Junction Child Care
Hardy, Kathleen Derby Line Child Care
Harriman, Pearl Barre City Child Care
Hatin, Cheyenne Newport Child Care
Hayes, Brittany Brandon Child Care
Hunter, Terri Lyndonville Child Care
Kids School Stowe Child Care
Lacasse, Katie Springfield Child Care
Learning Ladder Childrens Center Duxbury Child Care
Little Ones University Essex Junction Child Care
Loveworks Child Care Centers Montpelier Child Care
Maple Leaf Montessori St. Albans Child Care
McLaughlin, Michele Williamstown Child Care
Messier, Carin Bethel Child Care
Morristown After School Program Clubhouse Morrisville Child Care
Nadeaus Playschool Williston Child Care
Randolph Community Preschool Randolph Child Care
Rogers, Shirley Braintree Child Care
Russell, Diane Milton Child Care
Sleeper, Cronin Hartland Child Care
Spaulding UHS #41 Barre School
St Albans Town Educ Center St. Albans Town School
The Kids School Stowe Child Care
The Learning Tree Childcare Center Enosburg Child Care

Source: Department of Environmental Conservation 8.14.2019 : leadresults.vermont.gov