VOICES: Michigan is the first state to require water filters in schools. Let’s make sure it’s done right.
Michigan leads the nation by mandating lead-removing filters for school drinking water, empowering families to scrutinize their school’s Drinking Water Management Plan.
Republished with permission from Planet Detroit
Drinking fountain photo by stacey_newman via iStock.
- The requirement for water filters in all schools and child care facilities is a proactive measure against the neurotoxin still present in plumbing.
- Each institution must craft a Drinking Water Management Plan, detailing where filters will be placed and outlining schedules for water sampling and filter changes.
- Michigan schools must share Drinking Water Management Plans upon request.
Have you ever wondered whether the water your child drinks at school is safe? Until now, Michigan schools using city water weren’t required to meet any drinking water quality standards. That’s finally changed.
Michigan is the first state in the country to require that all schools and child care facilities provide drinking water through lead-removing filters. It’s a huge step forward in protecting our kids from lead, a potent neurotoxin that damages developing brains.
Since lead is still common in plumbing fixtures and pipes, it often turns up when schools test their water. Instead of letting children drink lead contaminated water while we guess where it might show up next in testing, the new law takes a preventative approach: stop exposure at the tap by installing filters certified to remove lead.
But strong policies only work if we follow through. That’s where families come in.
As of Jan. 24, every Michigan school and child care center was required to develop a Drinking Water Management Plan. These plans outline how each drinking water outlet will be managed and must be shared with anyone who asks. That includes you.
Now is the time to request your school’s plan and review it carefully. Each plan must include:
A list of locations for filtered bottle filling stations and other drinking water locations where filters will be installed.
A list of taps that will remain in use but clearly marked “not for drinking water.”
A list of taps that will be taken out of service.
A schedule for annual water sampling.
A schedule for regular filter cartridge replacements.
Make sure each of the required elements are included and their plans make sense.
Look at where filtered bottle filling stations will go. Are key locations like the cafeteria, gym, and auditorium covered? Will any taps be left in use without filters or signage? Are there outlets students use that are missing from the plan?
If something seems off, speak up — before money is spent and the plan is locked in.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy awarded $50 million in grants to help schools comply, but more funding is needed to ensure requirements are met in every school and child care facility. Long-term success depends on local oversight and continued investment in things like filter cartridge replacement and water quality monitoring. The sooner you get involved, the better your chance of making sure your child’s school gets it right.
Ask your principal, facilities staff, or superintendent for your school’s plan. Once implementation begins — no later than June 2026 — ask to see the water testing results. Schools must provide them if requested. This is a rare moment when transparency is built into the system. Let’s use it.
Clean water at school shouldn’t be a luxury. In Michigan, it’s finally becoming the law. Let’s make sure it becomes the reality.
Planet Detroit’s Voices column includes opinion pieces from our community of partners and readers. These pieces express the voices of the authors and not necessarily those of the publication.