LANSING — Five Branch County school systems and the Branch Intermediate School District will share part of $50 million in Filter First clean drinking water grants for schools and childcare centers.
Typlical water fountain filter units that can filter out lead.
In December, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy funded installation of bottle-filling stations, faucet-mount filters, filtered water pitchers, and replacement cartridges to protect students from lead.
Awards went to:
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Branch ISD: $82,050 for bottle-filling units, filtered pitchers, replacement filter cartridges
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Bronson Community Schools: $60,0410 for bottle-filling units, replacement filter cartridges
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Coldwater Community Schools: $225,348 for bottle-filling units, faucet-mounted filters, replacement filter cartridges
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Pansophia Academy: $17,600 for bottle-filling units, faucet-mounted filters, replacement filter cartridges
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Quincy Community Schools: $3,550 for bottle-filling units, replacement filter cartridges
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Union City Schools: $8,010 for bottle-filling units, faucet-mounted filters, replacement filter cartridges
The grant funding reimburses schools for the costs of complying with the Filter First law. The October 2023 legislation requires childcare centers and K-12 public and nonpublic schools to furnish children with drinking water that filters for lead.
Childcare centers must comply with the new law by October 2025 and schools by June 2026
The $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding will go to 612 public school districts, academies, and nonpublic schools.
Grant funding will also benefit 122 childcare centers.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, all community water supplies with lead or galvanized service lines previously connected to lead service lines were ordered to replace those lines at a rate averaging 5% per year, not exceeding 20 years.
The service lines must be replaced at the water supplier’s expense.
The legislature adopted the program after the Flint water crisis.
Contact Don Reid: DReid@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Filter First EGLE water filter grants Branch County schools
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