Maine Senate OKs expanded testing for lead in school water

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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) The Maine Senate is unanimously supporting a proposal to provide more comprehensive testing for lead in school drinking water.

The Senate approved the proposal by Democratic Sen. Rebecca Millett, of Cape Elizabeth, on Thursday. Millett’s bill is designed to require all schools to test drinking and cooking water for lead contamination.

Senate Democrats say the testing would be required to the extent the state Department of Health and Human Services can provide funding for it. Under current rules, only schools that are on well water are required to test for lead contamination in water.

Lead exposure can cause brain damage as well as impaired development and learning trouble in children. The testing proposal will move on to Democratic Gov. Janet Mills for possible signature.

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