Water Shut Off To 34 Detroit Schools; Students Get Bottled Water

DETROIT, MI — The Detroit school district has began shutting off drinking water to all of its schools after test results found elevated levels of lead or copper in 16 out of 24 schools that were recently tested, according to reports.

"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," Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, said in a statement Wednesday.

Vitti said he had initiated water testing of all 106 school buildings in the spring to ensure the safety of students and employees. Water at 18 schools had been previously shut off.

Officials said they would be testing all of the water sources, from sinks to drinking fountains, but not testing students, as there is no evidence to believe the water has caused a health issue.

At the 16 schools that had elevated copper and/or lead levels, the district took immediate action, turning off the drinking water and providing bottled water until water coolers arrived, Vitti said. The 16 schools bring to 34 the number of schools where the district has already shut off drinking water:

• Ben Carson
• Breithaupt
• Bunche
• Detroit Collegiate Preparatory
• Edison Elementary School
• John R. King Academy
• Moses Field
• Thirkell Elementary School
• Thurgood Marshall
• Wayne Elementary School
• Burton International
• Bow Elementary-Middle School
• Carstens Elementary-Middle School
• Carver STEM
• Clark Elementary-Middle School
• Detroit Lions Academy
• Sampson-Webber Academy
• Spain Elementary-Middle School
• Academy of the Americas Elementary-Middle School
• Adult Education- East
• Bates Academy
• Bennett Elementary-Middle School
• Cass Technical High School
• Roberto Clemente Elementary
• Clippert Elementary Middle School
• Coleman Young Elementary School
• Davis Aerospace @ Golightly
• Dixon Academy
• Foreign Language Immersion
• Hutchinson @ Howe
• Keidan
• Noble Elementary-Middle School
• Marcus Garvey
• Renaissance High School

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