Lead in drinking water is a serious issue—and one that might not be on your radar as a nonprofit leader. Each year, approximately 900,000 people die from exposure to lead. Any exposure to lead can be damaging, and lead exposure from drinking water systems is preventable. As nonprofit leaders, we have a responsibility to address this direct public health threat that impacts the populations we serve as well as those who use our facilities.

Why? There is no “safe” level of lead in the human body, and children and pregnant women are the most at risk. Recent studies suggest that up to 800 million children globally (approximately 1 in 3) are estimated to have elevated blood lead levels, and studies show that lead exposure may be responsible for 30% of all intellectual disabilities of unknown origin. All over the country, nonprofit leaders are raising awareness and funding to “get the lead out,” but the truth is it will take all of us to eradicate lead in drinking water.

We know that there are roughly 10 million homes in America that have lead pipes. This doesn't include other community facilities, like daycares and schools or places of worship. Clearly, lead in drinking water is a public health issue of national concern.

If you’re an advocate for any policy that impacts children, it makes sense to add clean drinking water to your mission. But before I dive into how you can get started, let's take a look at the root of the problem.

Because lead in drinking water cannot be smelled, seen or tasted, the only way to ensure drinking water in your facility is safe is to test it.

As a starting point, it's important to educate yourself. The EPA provides this handy guide with pictures and step-by-step instructions to evaluate the potential for lead in your facility’s drinking water. And this brief from the World Health Organization provides specific steps that can be taken to remediate lead in drinking water and the health impacts on those that face lead contamination.

Most importantly, I'd recommend looking into water-testing services from water treatment companies or private labs. There are some municipalities that might even pay for testing.

Read the full article about clean drinking water by Dave Viola at Forbes.