FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 2, 2016

For more information contact:

Robert Kolt (517) 706-0001

Lansing School District completes

extensive water quality testing for lead
Hundreds of samples taken system is lead safe
(Lansing, MI) The Lansing School District has completed an extensive water quality testing effort
for lead throughout more than 30 buildings in the school district, and superintendent Yvonne Caamal
Canul today reported that results from nearly 300 recent water tests show Lansing school buildings
are lead safe and there is no harm or danger of lead contamination to students that drink water in
any Lansing schools.
In light of the recent news articles involving contaminated water in other school districts, the Lansing School
District hired TriTerra a local environmental company, to conduct the most extensive lead-level water
quality-testing program in school district history. The last extensive water testing program in Lansing was
completed in 2004.
Working in cooperation with the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the City of Lansing, the independent
environmental company began testing water on January 22, 2016 inside Lansing school buildings, and
results of each test were reviewed within 24 hours so any actionable issues could be quickly addressed.
The safety of our students, staff and families is a top priority for the school district, said superintendent
Caamal Canul. When we started testing I was very concerned that because of the advanced age of many
of our school buildings, we might have a lead issue somewhere that could have exposed children or might
need extensive, expensive action. We did need to take minor action in a few very limited locations, but
children were never in danger and the actionable items were not expensive. We changed a faucet in a little
used area and just to be safe, we even changed a few nearby drinking fountains to make sure the water
quality is good. Overall, the water results are good news for Lansing students, parents and staff.
As testing began, the Lansing Board of Water and Light confirmed they did not have any lead service lines
going into school buildings. However, lead can accumulate in pipes or faucets that are not actively used on
a regular basis where pipes were soldered together with lead. Measureable levels of lead can also
accumulate in plumbing fixtures that are not regularly used or flushed with clean water. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) level for actionable exposure is .015 parts per million.
J.W. Sexton High school recorded a .016 at one site near a little used bypass line in the basement of the
building. The lead level was fractionally above EPA levels. A follow-up test on the main line reported lead
safe results below action levels. Wainwright, Woodcreek, Mt. Hope and Grand River (home to a Head Start
program) also recorded a location fractionally above EPA levels, but water lines were flushed, plumbing
fixtures were replaced and testing will continue to monitor those buildings.
The total cost of the water testing effort is expected to be about $20,000. Superintendent Caamal Canul
said the effort was a good investment to assure Lansing parents that children are drinking safe water.
Lansing is a leader in our region among school districts for this level of proactive, aggressive water testing,
superintendent Caamal Canul said.

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