Environmental Resources
Okemos Public Schools
Last updated: September 13, 2024
Testing at Kinawa 5-6 School
The following timeline shows when water was tested at Kinawa and when the district received test results:
WATER TESTING LATEST UPDATE FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT:
The Ingham County Health Department clarified when to seek a blood lead test for your student if you would like to have them tested.
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“A blood lead test can tell if a person has had recent or ongoing exposures to lead. While the lead in the body will decrease gradually after exposure stops, those who have concerns regarding recent or ongoing lead exposure should receive a blood lead test.”
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Our communications reflect the guidance we received from the environmental health and childhood lead experts at the health department and from the environmental testing company ERG. We continue to share and seek feedback on our communications with them throughout the process. As a district, we recognize where our expertise ends and where we need their support.
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Click the ICHD communication button above or click here to read more information on timing and type of blood lead testing, handwashing, and more.
2024 Testing
March 2024: As part of the district wide testing plan, Environmental Resources Group sampled 12 areas for lead and other contaminants in the water. Five areas showed elevated levels of lead. No one has been drinking the water from the two sinks that tested the highest. The remaining seven area tested undetectable or below the district's action limit of 5 ppb - although the goal will always be no detectable lead.
12 AREAS TESTED
March 18, 2024
Cafeteria Sink = 1 ppb
Main Office Clinic Sink = undetected
Bottle Filler across from Cafeteria = undetected
Bottle Filler near Staff Lounge = undetected
Bottle Filler near 100-105 = undetected
Room 402: Foods = 3 ppb
Men's Locker Room: Shower Room Sink = 44 ppb
Room 104: Hinze (Science Lab) = 9 ppb
Room 110: Diaz (Science Lab) = 9 ppb
Room 214: Solce = 3 ppb
Room 307: Clay (Science Lab) = 21 ppb
Room 406: Band Cleaning Room = 5 ppb
The district will follow ERG's recommendations to clean faucet aerators and run water for 10 minutes each school day to flush the pipes. Buildings constructed before 1987 have a greater likelihood of lead-based solder in pipes.
We have been asking our staff to direct students to drink water only from filtered bottle filling stations throughout the building until further testing is completed. These bottle fillers filter out lead and other contaminants. Signs are posted showing where students should fill their water bottles, and where they should not drink out of faucets.
2016 Testing
May & June 2016: Triterra conducted a strategic sampling of water at Kinawa 5-6 School on May 6, 2016. The test included five areas in the building. Three areas had no detectable amounts of lead or tested under the Filter First action level of 5 ppb. Two tested above the recommended 5 ppb.
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The kitchen steel sink tested 18 ppb. Analysis of the follow-up flush sample at this sink indicated the lead level was not caused by the water system, but by the fixture. The kitchen fixtures in this building were replaced. Triterra re-tested the sink on June 3, 2016 and results came back undetected.
5 AREAS TESTED
May 6, 2016
Service line = 4 ppb
Kitchen steel sink = 18 ppb
Hallway near room 100 (fountain) = undetected
Hallway near auditorium = 7 ppb
Hallway near gymnasium = undetected
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1 AREA RETESTED
June 3, 2016
Kitchen sink = undetected
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