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Resources for Fresh Drinking Water

Pupil Nutrition Funding for Drinking Water requires the California Department of Education to identify available sources of funding to fund water quality and infrastructure projects for local educational agencies.

The following agencies have available funds or financing to assist local educational agencies in providing safe, clean water to students and staff.

State Water Resources Control Board

California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank)

Drinking Water for Schools Grant Program

The State Water Board, Division of Financial Assistance is establishing a new grant program to provide funds to improve access to, and the quality of, drinking water in public schools pursuant to Senate Bill 828. Information about the program will be made available on the Waterboards External link opens in new window or tab. web page. To receive updates on this program as it is developed, please sign up at the Drinking Water For Schools External link opens in new window or tab. web page.

Free Lead Testing for Schools

This Program ended on 7/1/2019 and the last data download and update requests were completed on 12/31/2020.

The State Water Resources Control Board External link opens in new window or tab. , in cooperation with the California Department of Education (CDE), recently required all community water systems to test school drinking water upon request by school officials. This is a map of lead sampling in California schools by county External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF).

California Senate Bill 1413 (Leno)

Senate Bill 1413 External link opens in new window or tab., Chapter 558, Statutes of 2010 established California Education Code Section 38086, which requires school districts to provide access to free, fresh drinking water during meal times in school service areas by July 1, 2011, unless the governing board of a school district adopts a resolution stating it is unable to comply with the requirement due to fiscal constraints or health and safety concerns. Further information is available on the California Department of Education's Healthy Eating and Nutrition Education Drinking Water for Students in Schools web page.

Questions:   Diane Waters | dwaters@cde.ca.gov | 916-327-2884
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
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