POLICY: The center will have potable, clean, safe drinking water available and accessible to the children at all times.
Water will also be planned into menus.
PURPOSE: To assure children get safe water to drink when they need or want it.
To provide the body with the most important nutrient in the amounts needed by each individual.
PROCEDURE:
- The water that is available to the children for drinking will be certified safe and free of pollutants and unwanted chemicals, whether public water, well, or bottled.
- Water must be taken on field trips and to the play yard if not already available there.
- As of 2018, the new state law requires that child care facilities built before January 2010 have their water tested for lead by 2023 and repeat testing every 5 years. Remediation is mandatory if high lead levels are discovered. This requirement does not apply to Family Child Care Homes but lead testing is highly recommended. Lead exposure causes serious neurological harm to young children. See section G-8 and G-9 for detailed information on lead testing and lead prevention.
- For more information on Water Quality in San Francisco, or to report water concerns such as dirty or discolored water, call 3-1-1 or visit: https://sfpuc.org/accounts-services/water-quality