Detroit public school district shuts off drinking water due to high levels of copper and lead

The school district continually faces problems getting funding for new infrastructure

Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan is one of the latest schools to have its drinking water shut off due to elevated levels of copper and lead (Carlos Osorio/AP)

The Detroit public school district is turning off its drinking water due to higher than expected levels of copper and lead, just one week before the new school year starts.

Of the 24 sites tested, 16 showed elevated levels of the heavy metals. The latest testing means the 2018-2019 school year begins with 34 schools with no drinking water.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said in a statement: “Although we have no evidence that there are elevated levels of copper or lead in our other schools where we are awaiting test results, out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our students and employees, I am turning off all drinking water in our schools until a deeper and broader analysis can be conducted to determine the long-term solutions for all schools”.

Mr Vitti said he will be creating a task force to deal with the matter and noted the testing “was not required by federal, state or city law or mandate”.

The Detroit Free Press reported Mr Vitti had ordered all 106 buildings in the school district be tested this past spring, resulting in 18 of them needing to shut off drinking water.

Bottled water will be provided until water coolers can be procured.

The school district blamed an ageing infrastructure for the problem.

Despite concerns, the school district does not plan on testing students for heavy metal toxicity.

Building problems have been a consistent source of trouble for Mr Vitti.

A review of facilities from earlier in the summer showed the district would need $500m (£384m) for immediate fixes.

If nothing is done, the price tag will increase to $1.4bn in five years.

"It’s sending the message to students, parents and employees that we really don’t care about public education in Detroit, that we allow for second-class citizenry in Detroit. And that hurts my heart and it angers me and it frustrates me that I can’t fix it right now,” Mr Vitti said about the lack of funding available.