Written by Tanya Terry
The lead contamination in Flint’s water supply significantly impacted schools by causing a noticeable drop in student academic performance, particularly in math, and a significant increase in the number of students requiring special education services due to the cognitive effects of lead exposure on developing brains, especially among younger children. Additionally, this is often attributed to the increased need for special education services due to learning difficulties caused by lead poisoning.
Over a decade after the start of the Flint Water Crisis, there are 14 schools and over 3,000 students in the city of Flint. Between public schools, private schools and countless daycare facilities in the area, thousands of children might not have access to water that meets new state standards.
To comply with Michigan’s Filter First Law, all K-12 schools and daycares are required to develop a Drinking Water Management Plan (DWMP) by January 24, 2025, install lead-reducing filters on all fixtures where water is consumed, and test filtered water.
State funding is available for use toward one-time purchase and/or installation of filtered bottle filling stations, coolers, point-of-use filtered faucets and certain maintenance and sampling.
The GEM/MARS application for grant funding is now open, but will be closing on October 25, 2024!
A one-week extension was previously issued to allow more districts to complete their applications and access funding.
The Michigan state legislature appropriated $50 million in federal funding for this purpose.
This grant application is a joint effort between EGLE and MDE. EGLE is administering the Filter First – Healthy Hydration requirements and funding approvals, while MDE is administering the aspects of the GEMS/MARS platform and final distribution notification of the award reimbursement.
“Michigan state representative Cynthia Neeley, the lead sponsor of the Filter First legislation, was adamant that her constituents’ voices were heard through this legislation,” stated Molly O’Loughlin Pajauskas, VP of Marketing for Elkay.
Pajauskas added: “The passage of this law was a pivotal step toward protecting all Michiganders from contaminants in water. Representative Neeley recognized the cost that residents in Flint have already paid for contaminated water, and pushed for a clean water bill that would protect kids throughout the state.”
Elkay, a leader in water solutions, partners with Zurn, which specializes in plumbing systems, to provide comprehensive support for facilities seeking to improve their water infrastructure. Together, they are committed to helping schools meet Michigan’s Filter First requirements and provide a variety of offerings to support school administrators and daycares through the grant application process.
Pajauskas told the Courier lead is to be measured at 0mg/L. These levels are achieved by installing filtered water outlets, then testing the filters according to the approved EPA method for lead and copper testing.
“Water is tested annually, and results detecting lead 1-5 ppb or higher will trigger mandatory remediation efforts,” stated Pajauskas.
Pajauskas also told the Courier Filter First applicants are scored on several factors, including Justice40 parameters for housing, health, legacy pollution, and water and wastewater. Additionally environmental justice, small area income, poverty estimates, rural areas, and communities with high free or reduced lunch programs are considered.
“Elkay is committed to helping all Michigan K-12 schools and districts prepare for Filter First. The primary resource we are providing are site walks at no charge to the district. Our water experts walk all school buildings, identify the existing water fixtures, then develop a plan to replace and install approved solutions for filtered drinking water. Hundreds of fountains, sinks, and bottle fillers need to be assessed; a time-intensive task for facility teams already managing several tasks and projects. The end result is a Drinking Water Management Plan that’s required by the state of Michigan certifying the district’s compliance with the law. In addition, Elkay has created guides for navigating the legislation, offered step-by-step guidance on qualifying solutions, and ensured fast delivery so schools can quickly implement changes to their drinking water systems.”
All resources are available on elkay.com – and callers can connect live to a water expert at Elkay via the customer care line at 1-800-476-4106.
Click below to apply for the funding:
Applications are to be completed and submitted by using the online application.
Prior to applying for the grant online, please review the Filter First – Healthy Hydration Assurances and Certifications here: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/drinking-water-and-environmental-health/school-drinking-water-program/filter-first/healthy-hydration-grant-application
For questions about how the grant is to be used to comply with Filter First – Healthy Hydration regulations, contact EGLE at EGLE-DWEHD-FilterFirst@Michigan.gov.
For questions on using the GEMS/MARS grant application, contact MDE at MDE-GEMS@Michigan.gov.
