When children turn on a water fountain at school, they should get clean, safe water — not a sip of poison. But many schools still have fountains and pipes that leach lead into the water our kids drink every day. Ninety-eight percent of Philadelphia schools tested had at least one tap with lead, and more than half had unsafe levels (PennPIRG Education Fund & PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, 2022). Lead is a toxic metal that damages the brain, and even tiny amounts can harm learning, behavior, and growth in kids (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016).

This problem isn’t new, but it’s one we can finally fix. The Lead-Free School Drinking Water Bill (Pennsylvania Senate Bill 759) would make sure every child has access to safe drinking water at school. The bill requires all schools to install certified filters at drinking fountains and sinks. In addition, it creates a Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund to help schools pay for the upgrades.

We know this can make a big difference. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says even a little lead can hurt a child’s development. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agrees that there is no safe level of lead exposure. Clean water isn’t just about health — it’s also about helping kids learn and succeed.

Some schools, especially older ones, are more at risk because of old plumbing and pipes. Schools in lower-income neighborhoods are often the hardest hit, since they don’t always have money to replace old systems. That’s unfair. Every child, no matter where they live, deserves safe water at school.

Some people say this bill costs too much or that each district should decide for itself what to do. But the truth is, the cost of doing nothing is far worse. Lead exposure can cause lifelong health problems that cost families and communities far more than filters ever will. Keeping kids healthy saves money in the long run and it’s the right thing to do.

Strong lead-free water laws work — other states have already proven it. After New Jersey required certified filters and annual testing in 2021, lead contamination in school water dropped by 70% within two years (New Jersey Department of Education, 2023). With the right rules and resources, we can protect kids just as quickly here. But without action, too many students will keep drinking unsafe water. Chestnut Hill can be part of the solution. Here’s how you can help.

• Call or email your local leaders, like state Sen. Art Haywood and state Rep. Tarik Khan, and tell them you support SB 759.

• Go to local school board meetings and ask if your schools are testing for lead.

• Support clean water groups, like PennEnvironment, by signing petitions.

Every voice matters. When parents, students, and neighbors speak up, lawmakers listen. Together, we can make sure our schools are safe places to learn and grow. Our children should never have to worry about the water they drink at school. It’s time to take action and make sure every sip is safe. Let’s turn off the lead and protect our kids’ future.

Sarah Connors is a student studying in the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program at the University of Pennsylvania.