How to Test for Lead in Drinking Water at Your School or Child Care Facility

Log into TIMSIf this is your first time logging in, follow the instructions in the TIMS User Guide.

Confirm that your facility's information is correct. If you need to make any changes, follow the steps in the TIMS User Guide.

The taps that you tested during the first round will be in TIMS. Follow the instructions in the TIMS User Guide to:

1. Review your taps.
2. Add any new taps. 
3. Remove any taps listed that have been permanently removed or are not used for cooking, drinking, teeth brushing or preparing formula. 

See photos of different types of taps

If taps are not used for cooking, drinking, teeth brushing or preparing formula, but can be easily accessed by the public, they must have signs stating that the water cannot be used as such. Signs must include visuals for the non-reader. 

See examples of “Do Not Drink” and “For Handwashing Only” signs

You order test kits by submitting a work order through TIMS. You can choose which certified drinking water lab to use during the ordering process.  

• If you choose to use the Health Department Lab, the work order is sent directly to the lab in TIMS.  
  • Schools: You must contact the lab with payment or invoice requests. Call the lab at 802-338-4724 or 800-660-9997 (toll-free in Vermont) or email [email protected]. The lab will send the test kits to your shipping address within 1 to 3 weeks once payment is received.  
  • Child care providers not located in a school: Funding is available to support lead in drinking water testing. You will not be charged for lead testing. The lab will process your work order and send the test kit to your shipping address within 1 to 3 weeks after you placed the order.  
• If you choose to use an alternate lab, you must save and manually send the work order to the lab. Find an alternate lab that offers Act 66 testing. Child care providers that use an alternate lab will need to pay for testing costs. 

Follow instructions in the TIMS User Guide to submit a work order.

You’ll need to send a letter and an information sheet to parents, guardians and staff at least 5 days before you begin collecting samples.

The letter should include:

• When you plan to collect samples
• Why you’re being asked to test
• The requirements for testing
• The health effects of lead and other sources of lead (included on the informational sheet)
• How you will notify parents, guardians and staff about the results
• How you will respond to results that are at or above the action level

A letter template and information sheet with all these elements are available for you to use. They are translated into nine languages.

The yellow highlighted sections in all capital letters on the letter template will need to be edited by you before sending out the letters (for example, DATE, SCHOOL/CHILD CARE PROGRAM NAME, etc.).

Download the letter template
Download the information sheet
Download translated versions of the letter template and informational sheet

Be sure to follow any instructions the lab sent in the box of test kits.

You will need to collect two samples at each tap — a first draw and a flush.

For combo fixtures (for example, a sink with a faucet and a drinking fountain or bottle fill station and drinking fountain), you will need to collect two first draw samples — one from each tap — but only one flush sample. For ice machines, you will need to collect one first draw sample only.

Here are some tips:

• Collect samples first thing in the morning after the water has been sitting in the pipes for at least 8 hours. 
• Make sure you collect all samples before the water starts being used for the day. 
• Don’t sample the first day back after a weekend, holiday or vacation.
• If you’re collecting water from a bathroom tap, make sure the toilet in that bathroom isn’t flushed for at least 8 hours before you collect the sample. Use a different bathroom, if possible.
• Collect all samples from your work order starting closest to where the water enters the building.
• Collect all first draw samples first. Then go back and collect all flush samples.

Watch this video on how to collect water samples:

Return your sample bottles within 1 week of collecting your water samples. Follow the return shipping instructions the lab sent in the box of test kits, and be sure to:

• Screw the caps on tightly.
• Pack the sample bottles and any documentation (for example, a water sample worksheet) securely in any box(es) using packing material to make sure they don’t move around.
• Seal the box with packing tape.

Check with the laboratory you used to see when and how you will receive your results. All results will be posted on the results website one week after you receive them. Please note that results for a tap used by a licensed child care program that operates in a school may be listed under the school’s name.

If all of your results were below 4 ppb, the only thing you need to do is complete Step 3 of this section. You may still choose to remediate taps with results below 4 ppb (referred to as "voluntary remediation"). However, this is not required by law. Please note that there is no safe level of exposure to lead. The Health Department recommends that lead levels in water be as close to zero as possible. 

If you choose to complete voluntary remediation, follow the instructions in the TIMS User Guide. They will be posted on the results website. Any voluntary remediation actions for taps that will still be used for consumption require follow-up testing to make sure lead levels are below 4 ppb.

Go to the Lead in Drinking Water Results Website

If any lead levels are found to be at or above 4 ppb, you are required to immediately stop using that tap for drinking or cooking, food prep, making bottles and brushing teeth.

Below are the immediate remediation actions you can take while you are figuring out the best permanent remediation action. See the Remediation Guidance for more information. If you need help determining which remediation action to use, contact the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) by emailing [email protected] or calling 802-261-5603.

Follow the instructions in the TIMS User Guide to submit your immediate remediation actions. You must submit them within 5 business days of receiving your results.

Immediate remediation actions

• Remove the fixture from service, which means physically removing the fixture or valving off the fixture by accessing the supply piping and shutting off the flow of water to the fixture.
• Post a sign that says “Do Not Drink” or “For Handwashing Only.”
• Install a point-of-use filter after consulting with the Department of Environmental Conservation by emailing [email protected] or calling 802-261-5603.

You’ll need to send a letter to parents, guardians and staff of the results within 10 business days of receiving your results.

For licensed child care programs that operate in a school: the child care provider is responsible for notifying their program’s parents, guardians, and staff within 10 business days of receiving results from the lab. Child care providers should talk with school staff to learn more about the results and any remediation actions being taken.

Letter templates are available for you to use – one for when all results are below 4 ppb and one for any result is at or above 4 ppb. They are also translated into nine languages. The yellow highlighted sections in all capital letters on the letter template will need to be edited by you before sending out the letters (for example, DATE, SCHOOL/FACILITY, etc.). 

You may also include any additional information you want to share with your community. We recommend including the test results in the letter. You can do this by copying and pasting the summary of results table from your results email. We also suggest including the name of your program as it’s written above the table. That is the name used on the results website and will make it easier for parents, guardians and staff to find the results.

Download the below 4 ppb letter template
Download the at or above 4 ppb letter template
Download translated versions of the letter templates

Please note that all results will be posted on the results website. Results for licensed child care programs that operate in a school will be listed under the school’s name.

The best permanent remediation action depends on the results for that tap and whether the first draw sample, flush sample, or both samples were at or above 4 ppb.

Below is a list of the remediation actions. For more details, see the Remediation Guidance. If you need to consult with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), email [email protected] or call 802-261-5603.

Remediation reimbursement is funded by the US EPA’s Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. Child cares and qualifying schools seeking reimbursement for remediation are encouraged to purchase drinking water fixtures, filters, and other plumbing materials manufactured in the United States. Replacement fixtures should be NSF-61 certified lead-free. 

Follow the instructions in the TIMS User Guide to submit your planned remediation action for each tap. You must submit them within 6 months of receiving your results.

Permanent fixture remediation actions

• Fixture removal (You must physically remove the faucet or fountain and cap the supply pipes. Sink basins can stay in place so there aren’t holes in the countertop.)
• Fixture removal – new fixture installation in other location (for example, centrally located bottle fill station installation)
• Fixture replacement
• Point-of-use filter installation (after consultation with DEC)

Permanent plumbing remediation actions

• Internal plumbing replacement or bypass
• Service line replacement
• Point-of-use filter installation (after consultation with DEC)
• Treatment installation/optimization (after consultation with DEC)

Download the Remediation Guidance
Download the Plumbing Profile Questionnaire

Permanently remediate your taps according to your remediation plan. Then follow the instructions in the TIMS User Guide to submit your permanent remediation action for each tap. You must submit them within 18 months of receiving results.

Once you have recorded your permanent remediation actions in TIMS for all taps that were at or above 4 ppb, you will receive an email confirming that your remediation actions have been saved.

Download the Remediation Guidance

If you permanently removed the fixture, then you do not need to do follow-up testing. 

If you did not permanently remove the fixture, then you are required to do follow-up testing to make sure the lead levels of that tap are below 4 ppb. 

Follow-up testing information and test kits will be sent to you automatically once you have submitted all of your permanent remediation actions in TIMS. Go to the Follow-up Testing Steps section for step-by-step instructions.

You will receive an email letting you know your taps are ready to be tested.

• If you choose to have your work order sent directly to the Health Department Lab, the lab will contact you for payment, and then send test kits to your shipping address within 1 to 3 weeks once payment is received. 
• If you choose to send your work order to an alternate lab, you must save and send the work order to the lab. Find a lab that offers Act 66 testing.  

After placing your follow-up testing work order, begin flushing the taps that will need to be re-tested. For 3 weeks, turn on the taps to run water through the new fixtures or plumbing for a few minutes twice per day every day until the day you begin collecting samples.

• Follow the instructions the lab sent in the box of test kits.
• Collect all samples from your work order starting closest to where the water enters the building.
• Collect all first draw samples first. Then go back and collect all flush samples.

Watch this video on how to collect water samples:

Return your sample bottles within 1 week of collecting your water samples. Follow the return shipping instructions the lab sent in the box of test kits, and be sure to:

• Screw the caps on tightly.
• Pack the sample bottles and any documentation (for example, a water sample worksheet) securely in any box(es) using packing material to make sure they don’t move around.
• Seal the box with packing tape.

Check with the lab you used to see when and how you can expect to receive your results.

• If the result is below 4 ppb, you don't need to do anything else.
• If the result is at or above 4 ppb, then go back and re-do Steps 2-6 under the Results and Remediation section above. 

Notify parents, guardians and staff of results within 10 business days of receiving the follow-up test results from the lab. Follow the instructions in Step 3 in the Results and Remediation Steps section above.

You must pay upfront for all costs associated with remediating taps that tested at or above 4 ppb. After the remediation is complete, you can submit a reimbursement request.

You must submit an itemized invoice with the initial first draw Lab ID number to receive reimbursement. You can find the first draw Lab ID number by looking up your results at LeadResults.vermont.gov and clicking on “Tap Summary Cards.”  

Send your reimbursement request after all remediation has been completed. Use the online reimbursement request form to submit your request.

Before you begin, please make sure you can:

• Send a copy of all receipts and invoices electronically (please combine them into a single file if you can). You will need to attach them when prompted.  
• Enter total replacement costs by fixture (including parts and labor).  
• Identify each tap you are requesting reimbursement for by its initial first draw Lab ID#.  You can find the initial first draw Lab ID# by looking up your results on the Results Website and clicking on "Tap Summary Cards." 
  
  NOTE: The online form is easier to complete on a computer than on a mobile device. 

If you are unable to use the online form, print out and mail in the Reimbursement Request document – along with accompanying receipts and invoices – to:  

VT Dept of Health
Environmental Health
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-8350 

You will receive payment within 30 days after the Health Department receives an error-free reimbursement request. If an error is found, the Health Department will reach out to request a new invoice. The Health Department will use your State of Vermont Vendor ID to issue payment, which will be made in your preferred method of payment.

If you do not know if you have a State of Vermont Vendor ID, please email [email protected].