The Public Scool Community in Detroit will shut of drinking water in all of their 106 schools. After elevated levels of lead and copper have been found in 16 out of 24 schools
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti notified the community on Tuesday afternoon via email, and stated that he will initiate tests at all 106 schools after heavy metals were found in 16 schools.
Water will still be available for hand washing and toilet flushing.
“Although we have no evidence that there are elevated levels of copper or lead in our other schools (over 50) where we are awaiting test results, out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our students and employees, I am turning off all drinking water in our schools until a deeper and broader analysis can be conducted to determine the long-term solutions for all schools,” Vitti said
The city of Detroit will partner with charter schools to conduct similar water tests. However this will be more of an advisory role:
“We will be supporting (Vitti) in an advisory capacity through the health department, and the (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department) has offered to partner with the district on any follow-up testing that needs to be done,” Roach said in an emailed statement. “We are fully supportive of the approach (Vitti) has taken to test all water sources within DPS schools and to provide bottled water until the district can implement a plan to ensure that all water is safe for use.”
Both lead and copper contaminate drinking water mostly via corroded pipes and other plumbing fixtures, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Lead can damage child brain development, cause behavioral problems and sicken adults. Whereas copper can cause gastrointestinal distress, and long-term exposure can damage the liver or kidneys.
Vitti maintains that the levels found in the water are not life threatening and this is more precautionary, however, the test results are yet to come back from the remaining schools.
“This was not required by federal, state or city law or mandate,” Vitti said. “This testing, unlike previous testing, evaluated all water sources from sinks to drinking fountains.”
The city’s water department and regional water board issued a statement:
“The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) want to assure Detroit residents and customers of GLWA’s regional system that they are not affected by the lead and copper issues that the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is experiencing,” they said in a statement. “Aging school infrastructure (i.e. plumbing) is the reason for the precautionary measure of providing bottled water. The treated drinking water provided by GLWA and distributed by DWSD not only meets, but surpasses all federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act regulations for quality and safety. The water at GLWA’s treatment plants is tested hourly and DWSD has no lead service lines connected to any DPSCD building.”
If you are concerned about any of the schools which have been found to have resisted for lead and/or copper. The results are below according to Vitti’s letter:
Academy of the Americas Elementary-Middle School
Adult Education-East
Bates Academy
Bennett Elementary-Middle School
Cass Technical High School
Roberto Clemente Elementary
Clippert Elementary Middle School
Coleman Young Elementary School
Davis Aerospace @ Golightly
Dixon Academy
Foreign Language Immersion
Hutchinson @ Howe
Keidan
Noble Elementary-Middle School
Marcus Garvey
Renaissance High School
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