Brandon Twp.-About 48 hours after three schools in the Brandon school district were notified that lead exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits was detected in the drinking water, a second report was issued declaring the water safe.
On Wednesday, drinking fountains in Belle Ann Elementary, Brandon Fletcher Intermediate and Brandon High School were closed and notices were sent home with students following the EPA report of lead in the drinking water. .
The following Thursday, the school’s water pipes were flushed for about 30 minutes in an effort to purge the system of any contaminates that may have accumulated in the water. Water samples were then taken and analyzed.
‘When you have a period of time where water sits in pipes, the possibility exists that contaminates could gather,? said Bart Jenniches, Brandon Schools superintendent.
‘These buildings were vacated for about 10 days during the winter vacation. It’s possible that’s why the contaminates were in the water.?
Jenniches added that running the water for about 30 seconds each day will help prevent any contaminates–including lead– from forming in the water.
Testing for lead and other contaminates will continue on a regular basis by the school.
The source of the lead remained unknown, however the local water supply is not suspected.
The EPA mandated procedures and set an ‘action level? of lead at 15 parts per billion (ppb). The Jan.14 Brandon School district EPA report exceeded the 15 ppb at Brandon Fletcher at 28, Brandon High School at 17 and Belle Ann Elementary at 22.
Currently there are about 1,700 noncommunity public water supplies in Michigan, like Brandon School District, that have their own wells and serve more than 25 users each day.
‘Lead is very common in the environment,? said Brian McKenzie, Environmental Health supervisor for the Genesee County Health Department.
‘Most cases of childhood lead poising has come from lead paint, not the water.?
McKenzie said since the late1980s to early 1990s about 20 cases of lead poisoning per year were investigated by the Genesee County Health Department.
‘We now get maybe three to six cases (each year) and rarely are they fatal.?
Prior to 1950, says McKenzie, lead was commonly used in the production of paints. Lead dust from painted windows becomes airborne and can be inhaled or ingested by small children, added McKenzie.