Detroit Health Dept. secures funding to help DPS test drinking water for lead

DETROIT (WJBK) - A Michigan foundation is supporting efforts to make sure Detroit students have clean drinking water. A $135,000 grant will help public and charter schools and early childhood facilities test the water for lead.

The Detroit Public Health Department is uging all of DPS schools, charter schools and early childhood facilities to begin testing their water for lead.

The Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation has secured that grant money for testing. Educational facilities will pay for a collection of samples through a third party and the city will reimburse them from the grant, up to $225 per building.

DPS has already tested its 60 elementary schools. Of that, 9 results have come back so far, of which only one tested positive for lead in drinking water -- and that building has not been used as a school for several years.