Birmingham School District’s Response to Lead Testing Inquiry
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 27, 2016)
Birmingham, MI – As they see the images of children in Flint lined up to get bottled water or crying over blood tests, people around the country have been wondering about the safety of the water they and their families use on a day to day basis to cook, clean, bathe and drink. Parents, teachers and advocates have also been calling for testing of the water in schools.
When lead and copper are issues, it is often caused by old pipes or old fixtures. Even when old fixtures are there, corrosion control in the water helps protect users. But testing is the best way to know if the protections are working or not.
After learning that Oakland Schools had put out an RFP for water testing, the oc115 contacted school districts from throughout Oakland County to find out where they stand on testing.
Marcia Wilkinson, Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Birmingham Public Schools said “Our district tests annually for lead, e coli and other bacteria.
“We stagger our testing throughout the year so that our buildings are at least tested once per year. For example, one of our middle schools was tested in September, 2015. It will be due next September, 2016.
“We are concerned about our student’s and staff’s safety and want to do everything we can to make sure we have a healthy environment for all.”
Oc115 confirmed with Wilkinson that tests for lead were negative.
Birmingham Public Schools serves Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin, Southfield Township, parts of Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, City of Southfield, Troy and West Bloomfield Township.
To read what other school districts had to say, check out Local Schools Vary on Testing for Lead in Water.