A bill that will help smaller utilities address lead in drinking water passed out of a state Senate committee on Thursday. It would allow those utilities to replace lead pipes owned by their customers.

Schools in Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion and Shelby counties tested positive for lead levels above the EPA recommendation.

Testing completed in May showed about 60 percent of the participating schools had at least one fixture with lead levels above that mark.

The IFA will spend $3-4 million testing drinking water fixtures.

A new report from the Environmental Working Group examined test results from 50,000 public water systems in the U.S.

Over 700 Indiana public schools will have their drinking water tested for lead contamination this summer.

The Indiana Finance Authority will offer free drinking water tests at all of the state's public schools.

A Purdue University professor won a $2 million EPA grant to study drinking water safety.

City Utilities Director Greg Crowley says the elevated levels are likely related to EPA clean up activities in the Calumet neighborhood.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says state residents are eligible for the free testing if their property contains a private drinking water well.