Drinking Water Protection
- Drinking Water Protection Home
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- Drinking Water in Schools and Child Cares
- Drinking Water Revolving Fund
- Laws and Rules
- Noncommunity Public Water Supply
- Source Water Protection
- Water Operator and Certification Training
- Drinking Water Protection Contacts
Related Topics
- Annual Reports
- Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit
- Drinking Water Protection External Resources
- Fact Sheets
- Forms
- Invisible Heroes Videos: Minnesota's Drinking Water Providers
- Noncom Notes Newsletter
- Sample Collection Procedures (videos, pictures, written instructions)
- Waterline Newsletter
Related Sites
- 10 States Standards
- Clean Water Fund
- Health Risk Assessment – Guidance Values and Standards for Water
- Minnesota Well Index
- Water and Health
- Wells and Borings
Environmental Health Division
Drinking Water in Schools, Child Care and Head Start Programs
MDH works with schools, child cares, and Head Start programs to protect and maintain drinking water quality. MDH provides education for teachers, parents, students and school professionals on drinking water.
MDH Role in Schools, Child Care, and Head Start Programs Drinking Water
The MDH mission is to protect, maintain, and improve the health of all Minnesotans. This includes partnering with drinking water systems, schools, child care providers, and Head Start programs to provide safe drinking water. MDH works to be as transparent as possible with sharing of information related to safe drinking water. MDH provides guidance and technical assistance to schools, child care providers and Head Start programs about how to test drinking water and take follow up actions.
Reducing Lead in School Drinking Water
Requirements for schools to test for lead and communicate results to their communities.
Lead in Drinking Water in Child Care Settings
Guidance, requirements, and resources for child cares to test for lead in school drinking water.
Lead in Drinking Water in Head Start Program Settings
Guidance, requirements, and resources for head start programs to test for lead in drinking water.
Model Plan to Test for Lead in Early Care and Education Settings
The Model Plan provides the requirements and guidance for testing for lead in drinking water.
Information for stakeholders to provide feedback to MDH on results reporting and testing documents.
Opportunities for educators to learn about drinking water and engage their students on drinking water issues.
Grant opportunities for schools, child cares, and Head Start programs to test for lead, apply for hydration stations and learn about resources for meeting state drinking water standards.
Resources for Meeting State Drinking Water Standards and Requirements
Schools, Offices, Factories, and Child Care (Nontransient) are public water supplies which provide drinking water that serve at least 25 of the same people over six months of the year. While most schools, child care providers, and Head Start programs get their water from a municipal public water system, some that have their own well(s) are required to meet the federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Choose Safe Places Minnesota is an initiative to identify and address potential environmental concerns at or around child care locations to protect children and providers from harmful substances.