Two Thumbs Up for Drinking Water Filter Stations in Schools and Child Care Facilities
As a drinking water professional and mother of two children who are growing up in Michigan public schools, I strongly support Senate Bills 184 and 185 to provide filtered drinking water stations in schools and child care facilities. These bills will ensure that all children in Michigan will have a reliable source of safe, lead- free drinking water at school.
The Filter First Bills, SB 184 and SB 185, ensure that schools will have the information and guidance they need to install filter stations safely and effectively at the lowest cost to provide lead-free water to children.
As laid out in the bills, once filters are installed and unfiltered drinking water sources are disconnected or labeled for other use, schools have minimal ongoing tasks to ensure access to safe drinking water at school. All schools need to do is:
Replace filter cartridges on schedule,
Collect verification samples at each of the filter stations each year to make ensure the filters are functioning properly, and
Communicate clearly and consistently that filter stations are where you drink the water and sinks are where you wash your hands.
Safe Water Engineering and the Natural Resources Defense Council prepared a cost analysis that demonstrates that the Filter First approach costs less, provides a reliable source of safe water, and simplifies the school administration’s role in the provision of safe water: Drinking water filters eyed as better option to testing in Michigan schools and day care centers.
