Program update, February 2026 - The next round of mandatory testing for lead contamination in school drinking water is approaching. This first 5-year retesting cycle begins July 1, 2026, and continues through June 30, 2031.Every school that was built or had all plumbing replaced prior to 2016, must complete another round of mandatory testing for the potential of lead contamination in drinking water.
- Do not start retesting until the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
- Sampling and testing must follow the Department of Health’s Lead in School Drinking Water program technical guidance (PDF). This includes testing all outlets used for drinking or cooking and testing the morning after a regular school day.
- DOH will create a sampling plan outlining the districts that need to test each school year. We will finalize and communicate the 2026-2027 sampling plan in the late spring of 2026.
About the Program
To address the concerns about lead in drinking water, and to reduce children's overall exposure to lead in the environment, in 2021, the Legislature passed, and governor signed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill (E2SHB 1139) (PDF). In passing the bill, the Legislature follows the advice of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency that there is no known safe level of lead in a child's blood. Even low levels of lead exposure can cause permanent cognitive, academic, and behavioral difficulties in children. Learn more on the CDC's Testing for Lead Poisoning in Children web page
E2SHB 1139, now Chapter 43.70.830 RCW, Chapter 43.70.835 RCW, Chapter 43.70.840 RCW, Chapter 43.70.845 RCW, Chapter 28A.210.410 RCW requires that drinking water outlets in school buildings built, or with all plumbing replaced, before 2016 be tested for the presence and level of lead contamination initially by June 30, 2026, and then every five years starting July 1, 2026. In addition, schools must notify the community of lead test results and develop action plans for remediation if test results exceed the action level of 5 parts per billion.
For additional details on the legislation and testing requirements, see testing for lead in school drinking water, frequently asked questions.