There are new concerns about lead in the water in Flint schools.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality tested the water in 13 Flint schools.
MDEQ director Dan Wyant says tests at four schools came in above the federal action level for lead (15 parts per billion).
“The data underscores the need for a complete and thorough evaluation of the plumbing system in each school,” says Wyant.
Water at Freeman Elementary came in six times the federal action level for lead (101 parts per billion).
State health officials want to check the blood-lead levels of children in the high-testing schools.
Flint Superintendent Bilal Tawwab says the district is working to provide bottled water to students.
Flint Community Schools believes this is a good first step, however, we urge state and local officials to act quickly. We thank the MDEQ for making Flint Community Schools a priority. We are working proactively with the community and continue to ask everyone to help our students by providing bottled water and filter donations until we find a sustainable, long-term solution that can ensure our students have access to safe, clean drinking water in our schools and in their homes.
The school district has shut off water fountains. The district’s food service provider is also not using Flint water in food preparation.
