3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water
EPA's 3Ts - Training, Testing, and Taking Action - Here you will find information and recommendations to prepare schools, child care facilities, and states to build a voluntary implementation program to reduce lead levels in drinking water. Download the – 3Ts Checklist, 3Ts Manual, 3Ts Toolkit (Individual models), and interactive tools.
- Download the 3Ts manual (pdf) (English)
- Download the 3Ts manual (pdf) (Spanish)
- 3 Ts Checklist (pdf)
- Training webinars (upcoming and past)
3Ts Toolkit: View individual 3Ts modules
Click on the interactive wheel below to navigate to individual modules.
Please refer to the 3Ts manual for additional details.
Module 1: Communicating the 3Ts
This module is meant to work in conjunction with the 3Ts manual.
This module will help you develop your communication plan to: 1) Get your team together; 2) Create a contact list; 3) Identify your target audiences; 4) Know your methods of communication; 5) Identify times for communicating; 6) Start communicating.
The following are customizable forms or outreach materials for Module 1:
- 3Ts highlight brochures (print on legal paper) (pdf)
- 3Ts introduction webinar (pdf)
- 3Ts parent letter template (1 pp, 106 K, November, 2020)
- Developing a communication plan (pdf)
- Newsletter template (5 pp, 41 K, October 1, 2018)
- Onsight display (pdf)
- Postcard templates (4 pp, 315 K, October 1, 2018)
- Translations for English instructions (pdf)
Module 2: Learning about Lead in Drinking Water
This module will help you to learn about: 1) Health effects of lead; 2) Sources of lead; 3) How lead gets into drinking water; 4) Your facility and the public water system relationship; 5) How lead in drinking water is regulated.
The following are supplemental to Module 2:
- Basic information about lead in drinking water
- EPA’s graphic on lead in drinking water
- EPA’s lead website -- learn more about lead from different sources (i.e., paint, air, dust, soil)
- Glossary of terms (pdf)
- Learn about the lead and copper rule
- Water utilities' annual water reports, also known as Consumer Confidence Reports
- Webinar Series: Case studies about reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities
Additional school and student resources
- Association of Environmental Clinics Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) site
- EPA’s healthy schools website
- CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
- Drinking water activities for students and teachers
- National Lead Information Center – Document Request Site
Module 3: Planning your 3Ts Program
This module will help you to: 1) Review your records; 2) Establish partnerships; 3) Assign roles.
The following are supplemental to Module 3:
- Interactive Plan eBuilder for Child Care Facilities (pdf)
- Interactive Plan eBuilder for Schools (pdf)
- Assigning roles (pdf)
- 3Ts checklist-establishing a 3Ts program (pdf)
- Establishing partners and working with your water system (pdf)
Module 4: Developing a Sampling Plan
This module will help you to: 1) Conduct a walkthrough; 2) Determine sampling locations; 3) Select a laboratory for sample analysis; 4) Determine your sampling frequency; 5) Understand the sampling procedures.
The following are supplemental to Module 4:
Customizable forms or outreach materials:
- Conducting a walkthrough and determining sample locations (pdf)
- Developing a code system for sampling (pdf)
- Leaded water coolers banned in 1988 (pdf)
- Plumbing profile Questionnaire (pdf)
- Understanding the sampling procedures (pdf)
Module 5: Conducting Sampling & Interpreting Results
This module will help you with your sampling procedures to ensure valid results: 1) Sampling at the tap; 2) Sampling do's and don'ts.
The following are supplemental to Module 5:
- 3Ts Lead Sampling Collection Video
- US EPA 3Ts Lead Sample Collection Field Guide For Schools and Child Care Facilities (pdf)
- Lead Sample Comic Guide for Child Care Facilities (pdf)
- 2-Step sampling procedures (pdf)
- Detailed fixture evaluation (pdf)
- Preservation of samples and sample containers (pdf)
Module 6: Remediation & Establishing Routine Practices
This module will help you consider actions to take following the receipt of sample results: 1) Immediate response; 2) Short-term control measures; 3) Permanent control measures; 4) Follow-up sampling; 5) Considerations for replacement activities; 6) Establishing routine practices.
The following are supplemental to Module 6:
- Establishing routine practices (pdf)
- Follow-up sampling (pdf)
- Consumer Tool for Identifying Point-of-Use and Pitcher Filters Certified to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
- Fact sheet: How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux Used for Drinking Water
- Flushing best practices fact sheet (pdf)
- Do not drink infographic (pdf)
- Remediation options (pdf)
Module 7: Recordkeeping
This module will help you develop and maintain your recordkeeping and includes recordkeeping templates and customizable forms.
The following are supplemental to Module 7:
Customizable forms or outreach materials:
- 3Ts and recordkeeping (pdf)
- Module 7: Assigning roles(2 pp, 978 K, October 1, 2018)
- Module 7: Partners(1 pg, 939 K, October 1, 2018)
- Module 7: Sampling Data eTracker for Schools(275 K) (xlsx, May 2021)
- Module 7: Sampling Data eTracker for Child Care Facilities (pdf)
Child Care Specific Resources
These resources are specifically designed for child care and early learning facilities. Included are interactive tools, educational posters, and factsheets to assist with testing your drinking water for lead, taking appropriate corrective actions and communicating program activities to your teachers and parents.
- Resources:
- Child Care Poster - Introduction to 3Ts (pdf)
- 3Ts Lead Sample Collection Guide for Child Care Facilities (pdf)
- Interactive Plan eBuilder for Child Care Facilities (pdf) (Interactive tool; under development)
- Sampling Data eTracker for Child Care Facilities (Interactive tool) (pdf)
- Factsheet: Ensuring Drinking Water Quality in Child Care Facilities During and After Extended Closures (pdf)
- Lead Sample Field Guide for Schools and Child Care Facilities (pdf)
- 3Ts Lead Sampling Video (7 min, August, 2022)
School Specific Resources
These resources are specifically designed for schools (i.e., preK-12 grade). Included are interactive tools and factsheets to assist with testing your drinking water for lead, taking appropriate corrective actions and communicating program activities to your teachers and parents.
- Resources:
Additional Resources
These resources are designed to assist states, schools, and child care facilities implement a lead testing and remediation program for drinking water. Included are web-links and information for funding, case studies, best management practices and more.
- Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
- Best Management Practices
- Case Studies
- Fact Sheets
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Funding and Financing Resources
- Memorandum of Understanding to Reduce Lead Levels in Drinking Water
- Training
Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices (BMPs) provide effective and practicable means to reduce lead levels in drinking water at schools and child care facilities. EPA is committed to protecting children from the lifetime impacts of lead. A top priority for EPA is to work with states and communities to sample drinking water and modernize plumbing infrastructures that may be a source of lead in schools and child care facilities. BMPs are illustrated in the case studies of States, schools and child care facilities across the country that are removing and minimizing sources of lead in drinking water.
Case Studies
These resources are designed to assist states, schools, and child care facilities implement a lead testing and remediation program for drinking water. Included are the following (1) EPA hosted webinar series that highlight States, school districts, and/or water system examples. Presented is information regarding funding, best practices, lessons learned, and challenges; and (2) Interactive Map that illustrates programs across the country that are removing lead service lines and reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. Cities with detailed case studies can be found by clicking on the water drop or school icon.
- Resources:
Fact Sheets
- Factsheet: Ensuring Drinking Water Quality in Child Care Facilities During and After Extended Closures (pdf)
- Factsheet: Ensuring Drinking Water Quality in Schools During and After Extended Closures (pdf)
- 3Ts for public water systems (pdf)
- 3Ts for Child Care Facilities (pdf)
- 3Ts for tribal schools (pdf)
FAQs
The following is a list of frequently asked questions following the release of EPA’s revised 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water toolkit in 2018. These questions were received from states, schools and other stakeholders through the EPA hotline, EPA webinars and presentations.
- Resources:
- 3Ts FAQ (docx) (Word doc)
- Additional School and Student Resources:
Financing/Funding
These resources are designed to assist schools and child care facilities identify potential funding resources to implement a lead testing and remediation program for drinking water.
- Resources:
- Potential Funding Sources for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
- WIIN Grant (Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act)
WIIN Grants
These resources provide information on the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act) to support funding from US EPA to the States for lead level reduction efforts in drinking water. Included in the WIIN Act are grants that address funding to support lead testing in schools and child care facilities.
- Resources:
- Section 2104 of the WIIN Act: Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant. Click here.
- Section 2105 of the WIIN Act: Reduction in Lead Exposure via Drinking Water Grant. Click here.
- Section 2107 of the WIIN Act: Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant. Click here.
Memorandum of Understanding to Reduce Lead Levels in Drinking Water
These resources provide background information on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Reducing Lead levels in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care facilities. The MOU represents an unprecedented partnership with federal agencies and non-federal organizations to focus a coordinated effort to reduce lead levels in drinking water in schools and child care facilities.
- Resources:
