When it comes to healthy water, schools across America are failing to pass the grade. According to a report recently released by Environment America, many schools across the nation are failing to protect their students from being exposed to Drinking water that is contaminated with Lead.

According to a CBS News report, only nine states together with Washington DC require mandatory testing of drinking water for lead at schools, and currently there are no federal rules that require schools who's water is supplied by a public water system to have their drinking water tested for lead.

The newly released report, which assessed the drinking water quality at schools in 31 states and the District of Columbia, found that only 43% of school districts tested their drinking water for lead. Of those that did test their water, around a third found their water supply to contain elevated levels of lead, with parents of the affected school children likely having no idea that their kids are being exposed to it.

Of the 32 states (including the District of Columbia) surveyed, 22 had dangerously high levels of lead, meaning school kids were being exposed to lead when consuming water from school faucets or drinking fountains.

According to the report, lead-containing fixtures such as faucets, drinking fountains and other plumbing fittings are the core of the problem. The report found that water from a drinking water fountain at one school in Ohio had lead levels over 100 times greater than the actionable level set by the EPA for drinking water, while a school in Illinois had lead levels 212 times higher and a school in Massachusetts had lead levels that were nearly 1,500 times higher than the actionable level! All of these water fountains have since been replaced, however, Environment America is pushing to have all lead-containing fixtures and fittings at schools across the country to be replaced with lead-free fixtures, or at the very least, to have filters installed on every fountain or faucet that is used for drinking or cooking.

"Not every solution is going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so filters are, you know, $100, $200, some of them are even less, so that's a low-cost solution," report co-author, John Rumpler, explains in an interview with CBS News. "But, at the end of the day, not all communities are going to be able to tackle this problem on their own, and that's why we're excited to see states that are stepping up and showing leadership in helping communities invest in reducing this problem."

But Rumpler feels the US government needs to come to the party too, providing more funding together with stricter standards for lead in drinking water, since health experts agree that even exposure to small amounts of lead can be harmful to children, negatively affecting their growth, development and learning.

In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Andrew Wheeler from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that drinking water regulations will soon be updated to protect our kids from lead in drinking water.

"This is regulation that hasn't been updated in over 20 years and this is a proposal that we're gonna be putting out this summer that I think is gonna help a lot of areas make sure and ensure the public that they have safe drinking water," Wheeler said.

According to Wheeler, part of the update will include the EPA looking at potentially requiring school districts to test for lead in drinking water.

If you are a concerned parent that is worried about the possibility of lead contamination in the drinking water at your child's school, you can contact your local school district for more information. As pediatricians agree that kids should not be exposed to lead period, as even at low levels it can impede their development, you may want to take proactive measures to protect your child. One simple way of offering your child some protection against this harmful contaminant, as well as many others, is to invest in a lightweight portable drinking water filter, such as a Sport Berkey filter water bottle or even a Go Berkey kit. This will ensure your child has a supply of safe drinking water on hand throughout the day while away from home at school.