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Lead-heavy water found in East Lansing school

January 24, 2016

An elevated lead level reaching 30 parts per billion, twice the federal acceptable level of 15 parts per billion, was found in the water of one faucet in Glencarin Elementary School in East Lansing.

An isolated incident, it will not effect the greater East Lansing area or MSU, or will have any health effects on the population.

“We don't have any reason to believe that anyone would have an elevated blood level because of anything there,” Linda S. Vail, Ingham County Health Officer said. “Quite honestly any of the testing we do were to show any elevated blood levels are most likely going to be due to exposure in the home."

She said water isn't the most common place for lead exposure. 

“Paint is actually the most common source of lead exposure in homes, so most of it doesn’t come from water," she said. "We of course know about the situation in Flint but this is more of a receptacle piping issue and that’s not uncommon in older buildings or older housing stock either.”

Vail encourages those who have homes built prior to 1978 to have their homes checked for lead.

A sticker near the faucet believed to date back to the 80s or 90s said to flush the water until it reached the adequate human health levels. In a letter sent out to parents by the district, one of the four samples taken from that faucet reached above the 15 parts per billion level. Seven samples were also taken from other faucets and fountains at the school and each registered below the federal limit.

The district responded quickly, shutting off water to the faucet and now plans to replace the piping, which blames for the heightened lead levels. East Lansing district officials also met with Ingham County Health Department officials to discuss the scare and what was going to happen going forward.

The elevated lead levels have caused concern in East Lansing as well as at MSU over the quality of the water.

MSU is on a different water system than East Lansing, MSU spokesperson Jason Cody said. MSU students won’t need to be concerned.

MSU’s Infrastructure and Planning Facilities draw its water from the Saginaw Aquifer, a sandstone formation under the central lower peninsula, and treats the water at the university.

According to the latest MSU Water Quality report, “MSU water meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards," weighing in at four parts per billion. 

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