Lead found in water at Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint

[KamaAina]

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/01/lead_found_in_water_at_michiga.html

A building on the campus of the Michigan School for the Deaf has tested positive for the first time for lead in the water, according to a letter issued by the school Wednesday, Jan. 20 to parents and guardians.

"Yesterday (1/19/16), we received the first lead positive water test for the Stevens Hall dormitory (the school building continues to show no lead detected)," reads the letter from Michigan School for the Deaf principal Cecelia Winkler and administrative manager Mark Bouvy....

It's unclear in the letter what the positive test showed in terms of the amount of lead found in the water or how frequently tests had taken place prior to the positive result.

The letter further states "Our research shows that lead is not absorbed thru the skin but ingested," with the school exploring the option of filtering water for showers in the dormitory.

[Siwsan]

1. Considering the location of this school, I'm surprised this didn't show up sooner.

We drove past that school, just the other day, and actually remarked our concern about all of the students living in the down town area.

[KamaAina]

2. Interesting. So some parts of town are more affected than others?

Let me guess. The neighborhoods out towards the 'burbs are doing better.

[1939]

3. Age of the pipes.

Less lead in the piping in newer areas. The lead isn't coming from the Flint River, it is being leached out of the older lead pipes and lead solder joints by chemicals in the water which while harmless in and of themselves, cause the lead to leach out into the water.

[Siwsan]

4. The whole city is affected, but I'm wondering if area pipe quality is a factor

Michigan School for the Deaf is pretty close to down town and definitely in the city. None of the 'suburbs' are affected since they always got water from Detroit.

For example, I live in Flint Township, and have a well, but my neighbors in the newer part of the development get water via the township, and it is not affected.

Michigan School for the Deaf has some newer buildings, now, and that makes me think there might be some newer pipes that, maybe, didn't corrode as badly and as quick. Just a very uneducated guess, mind you, but kind of makes sense.

There is also a big orphanage for troubled children, downtown, called The Whaley House. Thinking about already at risk children being further debilitated by this is so heartbreaking.

I'll have to ask around and see what I can find out about different areas having different levels.

At the protest, on Tuesday, they were giving out a lot of info, but only verbally. I would have LOVED to have some of that info on paper.