ESCANABA — Thanks to mandatory testing required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), students can be sure the quality of their drinking water at school is above normal requirements.

According to a report released by EGLE in August, Escanaba, Gladstone, Manistique, and Menominee treatment plants did well, testing with lower than 10 parts per trillion of PFAS in the water. Schools, Big Bay de Noc, Tri-Township, Mid Peninsula, Bark River-Harris, North Central, and Escanaba’s Soo Hill, all tested with no trace of PFAS in their wells.

Big Bay de Noc School also submitted a water sample last year and the sample tested clear of any PFAS.

PFAS is a large group of manmade chemicals. More than 3,000 synthetic chemicals are classified as PFAS.

“We have well water at the school and have a set testing schedule for different water testing annually,” said Big Bay de Noc Superintendent Diana Thill. “Our maintenance personnel maintain water system certifications through the EGLE and follow the EGLE recommendations for testing and water source care.”

Willard Campbell is in charge of monitoring water at Mid Peninsula School in Rock. According to Mid Pen Superintendent Eric VanDamme, samples are collected more often than the mandated requirements to ensure their well is providing water that meets high standards.

Superintendent of Bark River-Harris (BRH) Jason Lockwood knows how contaminated water can cause problems in day to day operations. During a routine test years ago, the school found issues with its drinking water and had to re-drill a well.

“The district wants to do everything we can to ensure a healthy school … we realize the importance of routine testing and monitoring and want to continue to do everything we can to provide quality drinking water,” said Lockwood.

The school is making some provements to the plumbing system during construction.

“We are not doing any replacements, but we are making some improvements to our plumbing system as a result of the new construction,” Lockwood said. “And these improvements will have an impact on our overall water supply system.”

Currently schools are not mandated to test their water system if they receive it by way of a community water source. Escanaba, Gladstone, and Manistique districts, are not required to test drinking water the same as schools with a well.

Jay Kulbertis is superintendent of two school districts, Gladstone and Rapid River. Rapid River school relies on a well and routinely tests for metals, chemicals, and contaminants, according to Kulbertis. All Gladstone schools are provided water from the City of Gladstone.

“The majority of testing is done at the city level,” said Kulbertis. “However, since metals like lead or copper would typically result from an issue with corrosion of plumbing, we conduct those test(s) at every school. PFAS is a water source contamination issue, so that testing is done by the city.”

In 2018 Michigan led the nation in testing for PFAS in drinking water. Water treatment plants, daycare and assisted living facilities, tribal, private and public schools were asked to provide a water sample, whether they were part of a community water supply or using water from their own well.

PFAS are a large group of manmade chemicals resistant to heat, water and oil. They are found in food packaging, firefighting foam, household cleaners, microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes by keeping grease from penetrating containers, carpets that resist stains, pipes and wires that resist corrosion, and is used by tanneries, metal platers and clothing manufacturers.

They have been discovered in the environment and the human body. The chemical PFOA has been associated with increased cholesterol and uric acid levels. The United States has banned it, but the chemical is still around because PFAS do not degrade in the environment.

School plumbing materials and fixtures have a higher chance of contaminating the water system because systems in the school buildings are not used during times students and staff are away. Water stagnation gives lead time to release into the water system.

Public Health, Delta Menominee Counties, follows up with schools that use wells, but not schools using a community water source. Typically someone certified in collecting samples and understanding of procedures required by the state is assigned in schools using a well.

Last year, all three of the Manistique Area Schools, and the Alternative Education building, were tested for water contamination.

“There were 36 samples taken from consumable water sources,” said Manistique Superintendent Howard Parmentier. “Every one of these test(s) came back well within normal ranges.”

It took four years to change the plumbing materials at Holy Name Catholic School, according to Holy Name Principal Joseph Carlson. The installation finished last year during the summer. Carlson said, the building was built in the 1950s, it was time. All replaced drinking fountains also have a place to fill water bottles.

EGLE asks superintendents to take initiative in their schools by doing plumbing assessments, performing sampling plans, and perform risk reduction actions, to keep their water free from contaminants. Water sampling guidelines are being revised, until the revised guidelines come out EGLE is asking schools and daycare facilities to refer to the EPA’s “3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in schools and child care facilities”.

Contact EGLE, or read online, about ways to test, train and take action on contaminants in the water. EGLE is offering schools a free drinking water lead risk assessment until Sept. 30, 2020. Contact School Drinking Water Coordinator Holly Gohike at 989-705-3422, or gohikeh@michigan.gov, for more information.