Farmington School District’s Response to Lead Testing Inquiry
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 27, 2016)
Farmington, 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.
Farmington Public Schools Superintendent did not respond to the oc115 request for information.
However, Farmington Voice reports that “In a letter to parents, Superintendent Dr. George Heitsch said that initial findings from the April 16 testing conducted by Arch Environmental Group “highlighted five buildings where a fountain or sink was found to have slightly elevated levels above the action levels. To put this in perspective, the lead level is to not exceed the number 15 and the highest in this group was a 37….
“Two drinking fountains at Beechview Elementary School, a kitchen sink at Harrison High School, a science classroom sink faucet at North Farmington High School, a gym water fountain at Warner Upper Elementary School, and a hallway water fountain at Visions Unlimited were identified in the initial testing. Follow up testing will be completed on April 30, Heitsch said, “to provide assurance to our staff and families that our water is safe.” Those results will be shared as well.”
Read more at http://www.farmingtonvoice.com/slightly-elevated-lead-levels-prompts-testing-at-some-farmington-schools-135938
To read what other school districts had to say, check out Local Schools Vary on Testing for Lead in Water.