Proceedings of the 2020 Mississippi Water Resources Conference

Year: 2020 Authors: Barrett J.R.

Lead in drinking water has had heightened attention since the Flint Michigan crisis even though lead has been an issue for years. The EPA has passed the lead and copper rule that regulates and dictates testing for lead in drinking water systems but does not specifically address the most at-risk individuals which are youth under the age of six. This research focuses on child care facilities with a goal of determining best practices to reduce and/or eliminate the expose of lead in drinking water.

Mississippi citizens who acquire their drinking water from public water systems have the luxury of knowing the quality of their drinking water on a regular basis if they know who to contact and/or where to look. Approximately 90% of Mississippi citizens are served by one of the 1,200(+/-) public water systems which provide safe reliable water under the regulatory guidance of the Mississippi State Department of Health-Bureau of Public Water Supply. The regulatory oversight of public water systems should promote and produce a safer drinking water supply for Mississippi residents. Individual residents' plumbing and fixtures may contribute to lead leaching in drinking water regardless of the quality of the water produced and provided by the public water supply. As a result of knowledge gained from applied research, the adaption of best practices by practitioners, parents, and youth will increase the safety and reduce the expose of lead in drinking water for youths.