Three Rivers schools complete lead testing, identify fixtures for replacement

Three Rivers Community Schools completed a round of voluntary lead testing across all district buildings, with results showing the majority of water sources meet state safety standards. There were fixtures, however, that tested above new, more stringent lead thresholds and are now scheduled for replacement.

The testing was part of the district’s participation in two key water safety initiatives: the state’s “Filter First” program and the federally funded Lead Testing in School and Child Care Facilities Grant Program. Both efforts aim to improve the safety of drinking water for students and staff.

“We’re proud to be proactive in ensuring our schools are providing safe, clean drinking water,” Director of Facilities and Operations Brian Leonard said at the Three Rivers school board meeting Tuesday. “We didn’t wait for a problem — we volunteered for this program because it’s the right thing to do for our students.” 

Testing took place over spring break, when all buildings were temporarily closed to meet state-required standing time before sampling. Fixtures in all schools — including water fountains and kitchen sinks — were tested using both a “first draw” and “second draw” method to assess lead levels in both standing water and fresh water from the pipes.

Key findings include:

• Park Elementary had no fixtures exceed the lead threshold.
  
• Norton Elementary, Andrews Elementary, and Ruth Hoppin Elementary each had one kitchen or classroom faucet test slightly above the 5 parts per billion (ppb) limit on the first draw, but not the second.
  
• Three Rivers High School and Three Rivers Middle School each had a few fixtures with elevated levels.
  
• Barrows, which has older plumbing, had the most fixtures requiring replacement — a result the district says it anticipated.
  

Michigan law previously allowed up to 15 ppb of lead in school water, but recent changes have lowered that to 5 ppb, reflecting the greater sensitivity of children to lead exposure.

As a response, the district has already shut down or bagged affected units, posted signage, and implemented flushing protocols where applicable. Affected drinking fountains — many of which were already identified as outdated — will be permanently removed and replaced with new, state-approved bottle-filling stations funded through grants.

The district also plans to reduce the number of underused fixtures in schools to avoid unnecessary maintenance and testing.

All schools remain fully operational, and officials stressed that students have uninterrupted access to safe drinking water throughout the district. Follow-up testing will be conducted annually, and infrastructure improvements will continue into the next school year.

“We’re ahead of the curve on this,” said Leonard. “This is about student health, and we’re committed to getting it right.”

For more information or questions, parents and community members are encouraged to contact the Three Rivers Community Schools administration office at (269) 279-1100.

Najifa Farhat is a reporter with Watershed Voice.