IBWA - International Bottled Water Association Inc.

10/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/30/2026 14:00

IBWA Commends EPA, Calls for Continued Collaboration on Safe School Water

IBWA Commends EPA, Calls for Continued Collaboration on Safe School Water

Alexandria, VA, Oct. 30, 2026 - The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) today issued the following statement supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of $26 million to help states and territories reduce lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities.

"Every child deserves safe, clean drinking water wherever they learn and play. IBWA applauds EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for this investment, which builds on a program that has already helped more than 18,000 schools and nearly 33,000 child care facilities test their water for lead.

"Safe drinking water and healthy hydration go hand in hand. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines encourage Americans to choose water, and students can build that habit only when the water available to them is safe, reliable, and appealing. EPA's grant funding and its Training, Testing, and Taking Action (3Ts) program complement USDA and HHS efforts to make water a priority in schools. We encourage all three agencies to continue working together to strengthen both water quality and access.

"When a school's water supply is compromised, students still need to stay hydrated. Through our Choose Water First campaign and the Healthy Hydration Partnership, IBWA stands ready to work with EPA, state and local partners, and schools to ensure every student has access to safe drinking water-tap, filtered, or bottled-throughout the school day," said Matt Herrick, IBWA president and CEO.

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Media Contact:
Jill Culora
[email protected]
703-647-4609

About the International Bottled Water Association

Founded in 1958, IBWA is the leading voice for the bottled water industry, which supports more than 617,000 jobs that generate $42.5 billion in wages and $163 billion in overall U.S. economic impact. IBWA provides members with professional services focused on advocacy, communications, technical services, and education to advance safe, healthy hydration and sustainable business practices. IBWA's membership consists of bottlers, distributors, and suppliers across the U.S. and around the world working to deliver the #1 packaged beverage to consumers everywhere. For more information about IBWA, please visit www.bottledwater.org.

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IBWA - International Bottled Water Association Inc. published this content on October 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 30, 2026 at 20:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]