Pure Spout® Addresses Solutions for Strengthened Grade School Water Safety to Protect Children From Risk of Lead Exposure
Innovative filtration solution company hosts National League of Cities, Louisville Water Company in virtual event to amplify awareness of critical issue
LOUISVILLE, KY. (JUNE 27, 2024)—Pure Spout® held a virtual news conference today to raise awareness of the risk of lead entering schools’ drinking water. While lead is not present in drinking water when it leaves treatment plants, the risk of it entering increases as the water moves through older pipes and plumbing fixtures in buildings. Many public schools nationwide face this risk due to their aging infrastructure, as illustrated in a 2023 investigation of the 7,758 school water systems regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which showed that 77% of test samples taken had some level of lead contamination.
Event speakers, including Matthew Griffith, Pure Spout Manager and Co-Developer and event moderator; Mark Campbell, Pure Spout Co-Developer and Water Scientist; Irma Esparza Diggs, National League of Cities Senior Executive and Director of Federal Advocacy; Spencer Bruce, Louisville Water Company (inventor of Pure Spout) CEO and President, discussed this issue in detail during today’s news conference. The conversation addressed how schools can be susceptible to this risk due to corroded and aging plumbing in the buildings and the common challenges schools and local government face when trying to address the issue. The discussion further highlighted the severity of this risk, as children are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead. Lead exposure in children can lead to significant developmental delays and long-term health impacts.
Panelists additionally took turns identifying what is currently being done and what must still be done to protect the health of grade school students. The federal government’s recent investment in water infrastructure and focus on replacing lead pipes was underscored as an excellent start to this process, while having accessible innovative filtration technology, such as point-of-use (POU) water filters, was presented as an effective and low-cost remediation to provide immediate public health protection. Some states, including Michigan, have opted to enact a “Filter First” approach and proactively require the use of POU filters on all water fountains in grade schools and childcare centers. Studies have found this to be both the most effective and economical approach, potentially resulting in millions of dollars of savings for the states, all while protecting the health of grade school children.
“Every child deserves a high-quality drink of water, yet, we have seen headlines throughout the years of schools across the nation grappling with high levels of lead in their drinking water,” said Griffith. “It is critical to ensure that our nation’s most vulnerable population, children, are protected against this risk, especially in the environment where they spend a significant portion of their childhood – their schools.”
# # #
About Pure Spout®
Pure Spout®, available through Blue Focus LLC, is an award-winning water filtration solution with a mission to ensure clean, safe drinking water in communities across the nation. Pure Spout® offers a patented, replaceable filter that fits onto most drinking fountains. This product provides an immediate, cost-effective solution to reduce lead in drinking water and is certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).