Broward lawmaker wants to ensure lead-free water at Florida schools

Florida’s constitution binds schools to promise a “safe” education to those under their care. However, most schools in Florida can’t promise lead-free drinking water on-campus. Testing is optional and most school districts opt out.

That could soon change, though, under a bill by Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer of Fort Lauderdale.

Schools must install one water bottle filling station per 100 students under the measure. They must also install lead filters on all on-campus drinking water sources.

Farmer wants Florida to pay for the fixes with federal COVID-19 relief dollars. The costs, he said, are just a “drop in the bucket.”

– Jason Delgado, Florida Politics