Detroit public schools expect to spend nearly $3.8 million enacting a long-term solution to widespread lead and copper contamination in students’ drinking water.
The price tag includes $741,939 to install 818 hydration stations and filters, $750,000 for water coolers until completed installation of the stations in the summer of 2019, $539,880 for environmental remediation costs, $1.2 million for maintenance services and $282,000 for facilities maintenance, according to a resolution passed unanimously by the Detroit Community Schools Board on Tuesday, Oct. 9.
It’s estimated there will be one hydration station per 100 students in a district of nearly 50,000.
Nearly $2.4 million of the cost is being offset by donations from nonprofits and businesses.
The district last month announced that water samples taken from 57 of 86 schools revealed copper or lead levels in excess of legally acceptable limits.
Mass drinking water problems were discovered in at least 33 of 52 schools when test results were returned just prior to the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Results prompted administrators to install water coolers and offer bottled water to students as they returned to class in September.
Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told the Associated Press it would cost an estimated $100,000 per month to provide water to students.
A list of schools that tested for high levels of copper or lead can be found here.
Hydration stations, such as those scheduled to be installed in Detroit schools, are currently used in Royal Oak, Ann Arbor and Birmingham schools, according to the district,