The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) announced its long-term solution to provide clean drinking water for the more than 50,000 students and staff throughout the district, with the installation of water hydration systems.
In addition, DPSCD announced support from approximately a dozen philanthropic partners who have committed $2.4 million to support the purchase and installation of the hydration systems to be placed in every school building by summer of 2019.
“We worked expeditiously to identify a long-term drinking water solution that ensures all students and staff have access to safe and clean drinking water,” said Nikolai P. Vitti, Superintendent of DPSCD.
“We are extremely grateful to our donors who continue to step up and assist us with maintaining a safe learning environment.” The DPSCD Board of Education unanimously approved the implementation and funding of hydration stations in all DPSCD schools today during a special board meeting.
They are also working to raise additional funds from the community through a dedicated website link at http://www.UnitedWayWaterFund.org.
Until the hydration stations are installed, schools will continue to use water coolers.
We stand firmly with the district in putting the safety of our children first and ask the community’s support of our special campaign so that students have access to clean drinking water.” Similar hydration stations are being used in multiple districts around the country, as well as locally in Royal Oak, Ann Arbor and Birmingham schools, suburban school districts in Michigan.
“The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) applauds Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti for being proactive and testing all of the water taps at all of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) school buildings.
Included in this packet is a letter from the Detroit Health Department.
The District extends a special thank you to the donors, and all involved who have put this plan in place.

OKEMOS, Mich. February 21, 2018 Sixty-one schools across Michigan will soon receive new water fountains/bottle filling stations, thanks to $200,000 in funding from the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) and MESSA.
The schools are winners of MESSA and DDF’s “Rethink Your Drink: Water’s Cool at School program,� designed to encourage children to drink more water during the school day.
(The list of winners follows this press release.)
“Not only are sugar-sweetened beverages like pop and juice drinks bad for your teeth, they can contribute to other health issues such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
MESSA is committed to supporting education employees as they look to improve their own health while modeling good examples for their students.� Winning schools will have old drinking fountains replaced with Elkay water fountain/bottle filling stations by Oak Park-based Balfrey & Johnston.
For more information, visit http://www.deltadentalmi.com.
More information at messa.org.
2018 “Rethink Your Drinkâ€� winners:     Alcona Elementary, Middle and High Schools, Lincoln     Arborwood Elementary Campus, Monroe     Athens High School, Troy     Atlantis High School, Flint     Attwood Elementary School, Lansing     Bangor High School, Bangor     Beech Elementary School, Redford Township     Blesch Intermediate School, Menominee     Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport Township     Bullock Creek Elementary School, Midland     Carrollton High School, Saginaw     Chatterton Middle School, Warren     Chippewa Valley High School, Clinton Township     Detroit Cristo Rey High School, Detroit     Dudley STEM Elementary School, Battle Creek     Eau Claire High School, Eau Claire     Escuela Avancemos Academy, Detroit     Ford Early Learning Center, Ypsilanti     Gier Elementary School, Hillsdale     Harrison Middle School, Harrison     Hatherly Educational Center, Warren     Holden Elementary School, Warren     Inland Lakes Elementary School, Indian River     International Academy at Hull, Benton Harbor     Ionia Middle School, Ionia     Johannesburg-Lewiston High School, Johannesburg     Kolb Elementary School, Bay City     Lake Shore High School, Saint Clair Shores     Lincoln Elementary School, Zeeland     Lockwood Elementary School, Eaton Rapids     Luther L. Wright School, Ironwood     Mesick Jr./Sr.
High School, Mesick     Montrose Hill-McCloy High School, Montrose     Moon School, Muskegon     Morrish Elementary School, Swartz Creek     Mt.
Morris Middle School, Mt.