Four years after reports surfaced that tap water in Flint, Michigan, was contaminated with lead, Detroit’s public school district is shutting off drinking water after tests revealed large amounts of lead or copper at a majority of its schools.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti decided to turn off the water at the district’s 24 schools after "water in 16 of them was found to have high levels" of the substances.
"Although we have no evidence that there are elevated levels of copper or lead in our other schools 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 in a statement to the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday.
District officials said aging water fixtures may have caused the contamination, the AP reported.
The Great Lakes Water Authority, which provides water to the schools, "says its water surpasses all federal standards," according to the AP.
Over 40,000 students attend schools in the district, whose school year begins next week.
Read more here or here.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.