Indiana House adopts Errington amendment that would improve school water safety statewide

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House members passed an amendment proposed by State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) that mandates schools statewide to require educational spaces to test drinking water for potential lead and copper contamination.

House Bill 1265 in its original form included only schools in Lake County in the mandate.

“I went straight to the source,” said Errington. “I asked my constituents what they thought of expanding this mandate statewide, and they were overwhelmingly in support.

“If it is found that there is a presence of lead that is equal to or greater than the federal action level of 15 parts per billion, then the operators of that facility must take steps to correct the matter and reduce that number to safer levels,” Errington added. “We have to set measures in place to ensure that our children are safe at school.”

The amendment passed unanimously through the House.