Drinking Water Lead Testing Program

Child Care or School Name: Brown City Community Schools Date: 9/2/21

We are committed to protecting the health of students, teachers, and staff so we participated in the Drinking Water Lead Testing Program, which is a federal grant program administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). By volunteering for this program, the drinking water and food preparation taps were tested for lead.

You can see a copy of the water testing results at our facility. For more information about water quality in our facility, please contact Neil Kohler at (810)346-4700. For information about water quality and sampling for lead at home, contact your local water supplier or go to the following website: Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe. EGLE recommends that drinking water or food preparation taps in a childcare facility or school that have a test result greater than 0.005 milligrams per liter (mg/L) be taken out of service immediately until the risk can be reduced.

Lead can cause serious health and development problems if inhaled or swallowed. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to children ages 6 and under and to pregnant and nursing women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother’s bones, which may affect brain development. The only way to know if you or your child has been exposed to lead is to get a blood test. Contact your doctor or local health center to perform a simple blood test.

Lead is a common metal found in the environment. It can be found in lead-based paint, dust, soil and in the air, food, and water. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure if there is lead in plumbing materials (service lines, pipes, and fixtures). Lead enters the water when the service line, pipes, and fixtures that contain lead break down or wear away. The amount of lead in water also depends on the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long the water stays in the pipes, and the amount of lead in the plumbing.

• Shutting off or disconnecting taps that have test results greater than 0.005 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
• Running the water (flushing) on a regular basis to decrease the length of time water stays in the pipes.
• Cleaning aerators and screens from drinking water fixtures on a routine basis.
• When possible, installing drinking water bottle fill stations with filters that reduce lead and teaching children to drink or fill water bottles only from these.
• Putting up signs to notify people that certain taps are not to be used for drinking or cooking (for handwashing only).
• Using only cold water for drinking and cooking.
• When possible, replacing old plumbing and fixtures as we can with certified “lead-free” plumbing materials.

Posting in Common Areas of the Building
Posting on Website

Signed and Certified
Neil Kohler, Superintendent 9/2/21
(Please email a copy of this signed notice to: EGLE-DWEHD-Schoolwater@Michigan.gov or mail a copy to: 2100
West M-32, Gaylord, Michigan 49735, or fax to: 989-731-6181. Thank you!)