DURHAM - More homes and child-care centers will be tested for lead as part of a countywide effort to reduce lead exposure, particularly in children under age 6.

The initiative was launched Wednesday night in response to reports last year of lead in some drinking water. State regulators have cited the city for high levels of lead in the water, based on samples taken last year.

The new plan will be carried out by the Durham Environmental Lead Collaborative, a group of government and grass-roots organizations that met Wednesday night. In addition to the effort to find and remove sources of lead, parents will be encouraged to have their children tested.

"We should eliminate lead poisoning for all children in our community, for all children in our state," said Marie Lynn Miranda, an environmental sciences professor at Duke University who leads the new partnership.

Officials said they didn't know exactly how much the additional testing and public education efforts would cost.

City Manager Patrick Baker said the city will test anyone's drinking water for free.

Beginning in May, there will be a second drop-off site for water samples at 1600 Mist Lake Drive. The other is at 6605 Farrington Road. Hours at both drop-off sites will be expanded.

The city also will encourage homeowners in certain high-risk areas to have not just their water tested but their homes and yards as well.

The city is just one of the many organizations involved in this effort. The county Health Department already has a four-person team responsible for encouraging people to have their homes and children tested for lead.

Reports in The News & Observer last year about a child suffering from lead poisoning after drinking tap water prompted a more than 25 percent increase in the number of children tested by the county, according to data provided by Brian Letourneau, director of the county Health Department. That child was the only one to suffer from lead poisoning, but 11 others had lead levels above the accepted safe threshold of 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood.

Letourneau estimated that 200 to 300 children might have lead levels less than 10 micrograms but higher than 5.

"That's the population that hasn't been addressed that will be addressed in the action plan," he said.

Miranda said even lead levels under 10 micrograms could have a negative impact on children's health -- now and when they're adults.

Lead can cause neurological disorders in children, such as attention deficit disorder or even retardation in extreme cases. Lead exposure as a child also can cause hypertension or kidney damage later in life.

"When you're a parent and it's your child, these straight federal standards that are out there are not necessarily enough to make you feel better," Miranda said.