DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on unsafe levels of lead and copper found in drinking fountains and water fixtures in Detroit schools (all times local): 2:05 p.m.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District school board has approved spending of about $3 million on hydration stations and related expenditure following the discovery of high levels of lead and copper in some school water fixtures.
Also Tuesday, board members approved the continued use of water coolers in all school buildings while the hydration stations are being installed.
Tests have shown elevated levels of lead or copper in 57 schools.
Results are pending for 17 more schools.
The 106-school district plans to replace more than 800 drinking fountains with the hydration stations which it says is a long-term solution to the contamination problem.
___ 7:30 a.m. A review of water testing results at Detroit public schools found that one school had more than 54 times the allowable amount of lead under federal guidelines while another exceeded the regulated copper level by nearly 30 times.
The Detroit News reports it reviewed hundreds of pages of water reports for 57 Detroit Public Schools Community District buildings that had elevated levels of lead and/or copper in the water.
Detroit officials believe old fixtures could be to blame for the contamination in schools, where water coolers and bottled water are being provided.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says hydration stations “will ensure there is no lead or copper in all water consumed by students and staff.” Vitti on Tuesday is discussing long-term plans to fix water issues with the district’s board.