A new bill which was passed by Michigan senate on September 20,2022, requires all schools and childcare centers in the state to filter drinking to ensure it's free from lead and other harmful contaminants.

Senate Bills 184 and 185, which were introduced early in 2021, were passed by the senate with 35 senators voting in favor and only 1 voting against the bill.

Protecting our Children From Lead in Drinking Water

The new bills require schools and childcare centers to create a safety plan for drinking water, and to provide filtered water at faucets and bottle-filling points. All unfiltered water outlet's must be shut off, and signage needs to be posted alongside water outlets indicating whether the water is safe to drink.

"We need to protect the water our children drink from lead and other poisons," said bill sponsor, Sen. Curtis VanderWall, in an interview with Michigan Live. "This legislation will ensure schools and childcare centers only install filtered drinking water stations and have the tools and resources to keep our children safe from contaminated drinking water."

Aging water infrastructure, plumbing and plumbing fixtures can cause contaminants such as lead to leach into treated water, particular in school environments where water may stand in pipes for long periods over weekends or extended holiday breaks. Exposure to lead is particularly concerning as it poses a serious health risk to children, whose brains are still developing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to lead is associated with damage to the brain and nervous system, developmental problems, learning difficulties, and behavior problems, as well as speech and hearing problems.

The Department of Treasury will create a fund to help schools and childcare centers purchase and install the required water filters, as well as cover the costs associated with maintenance and testing. The Department of Treasury may also purchase the necessary water filters in bulk to take advantage of reduced prices for bulk orders.

In March, the state set aside $50 million to fund filters in its supplemental state budget of $5 billion, which could be made available if the bills are signed into law.

"We put substantial money behind it for schools and daycares already, but the policy needed to follow with it," said bill sponsor, Jim Ananich. "I was happy to get those done."

Supporters of the bill, which included the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Ecology Center, agreed that filtering water at point-of-use works out far more cost-effective than conducting regular water testing at taps, and/or replacing water mains, and plumbing and fixtures at each school premises where lead levels are dangerously high.

"No amount of lead is safe for children," said Charlotte Jameson, chief policy officer for the Michigan Environmental Council. "Lead poisoning can stunt development, make learning difficult and physically sicken. We commend the Michigan Senate for recognizing these dangers and supporting the best solution to them. Filters eliminate the threat of lead in children's drinking water, helping them thrive now and far into the future."

Does the Berkey Remove Lead from Drinking Water?

Berkey provides water filters that are capable of removing lead and over 200 other harmful drinking water contaminants. The Berkey water filter comes in a wide range of sizes, including the handy portable Sport Berkey filter water bottle. These are small enough to slip into a backpack or school bag, but powerful enough to provide your child with safe drinking water from any source.