Lead Testing Notification

Drinking Water Assessed
Posted on 05/02/2023
This is the image for the news article titled Drinking Water AssessedA Notice to Parents, Guardians and Staff
A Plan for the Health of Our School Drinking Water


April 28, 2023

Dear Parent, Guardian, and Staff:

We would like to tell you about our plans to reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water in our school. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) are encouraging all schools and childcare facilities to reduce children’s exposure to lead from school drinking water. Cassopolis Public Schools is committed to protecting student, teacher, and staff health. This testing is not being done in response to any specific concerns. We are being proactive in order to learn about the quality of the drinking water in our schools. Quality drinking water can foster healthy and successful children.

What we will be doing
To protect our community, we are pleased to let you know that our school will be taking the following proactive steps:

1. Check the drinking water plumbing for potential lead components.
2. Identify and map all taps used for drinking, cooking, and food preparation.
3. Develop a lead sampling plan to ensure proper water sample collection.
4. Collect water samples at every tap being used or potentially being used for drinking, cooking, or food preparation.
5. Send samples to a certified drinking water laboratory.
6. Review the results and take immediate action at taps with lead results greater than 5 parts per billion (ppb). With a goal of reducing the risk at all taps.
7. Inform you of results and information as it becomes available to us.
8. Work on reducing any potential risk of lead in our school drinking water.

When this will happen
We, and a number of other school districts, are working with the State to complete the assessments within the next few months. 

How we will respond to the results
Once we have reviewed the results, we will take immediate action on all taps with results greater than 5 ppb. These taps will be taken out of service until appropriate corrective actions can be taken. Actions will be determined based on the plumbing assessment, severity of results, and resources available. Actions may include one or more of the following; replacement of taps, pipe replacement or reconfiguration, filters, flushing, and/or temporary use of bottled water. After corrective actions have been taken, we will retest the problem taps to ensure the risk of lead exposure has been reduced. Routine water moving protocols and future routine sampling will also be implemented for overall water quality.

We are committed to keeping you informed as we implement this healthy drinking water program in our schools. Visit www.Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe to learn more about the risks of lead in drinking water and how you can reduce the risk of lead in your home.

Sincerely,
John Ritzler, Ph.D.
Superintendent