Help Protect Children from Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water

Many Michigan children are back in school. But water pipes, drinking fountains, and other water fixtures have been sitting unused for months because of COVID-19 school closures, increasing the risk of dangerous lead contamination.

Schools and childcare centers are meant to be places for children to thrive. But when lead gets into drinking water, it presents a grave risk to the development of young bodies and minds.

Thankfully, the Michigan State Legislature is considering critical legislation that would require the installation of filtered drinking water devices in all public schools and in childcare centers across the state.

Tell your state lawmakers to protect children from lead in schools and childcare centers!

Many Michigan children are back in school. But water pipes and drinking fountains have been sitting unused for months because of COVID-19 school closures, increasing the risk of lead and other contaminants. Tell your state lawmakers to support policy that requires the installation of filtered drinking water stations in all public schools and childcare centers.

Your message will be sent to:

Your Michigan state senator
Your Michigan state representative
Cc: Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Subject line:

Protect Michigan children from lead in drinking water!

(Consider adding your own thoughts — personalized messages are especially effective)

Dear Michigan State Legislator: 
Cc: Governor Gretchen Whitmer

In the short-term, school officials must properly restart the drinking water in schools under their jurisdiction to protect kids from lead and other contaminants.

But flushing the pipes won't protect kids from the ongoing lead contamination caused by plumbing and fixtures containing lead. That's why, as your constituent, I'm writing in support of SB 590/HB 5104 and SB 589/HB 5105 -- critical bills that would help protect children from drinking lead-contaminated water.

These bills would:

* Require that all public schools and childcare centers in the state install filtered drinking water stations
* Mandate that these institutions test filtered water annually to ensure that the filters are functioning properly
* Ensure that schools and childcare centers communicate with families about the quality of drinking water provided to children
* Create a fund within state government to make grants to all schools and to childcare centers in low-income communities to cover the cost of these new water filtration devices and the maintenance they'll require

There's no safe level of lead. That's why it's so disturbing that lead is commonly found in drinking water in Michigan's schools and childcare centers, presenting a grave risk to the development of young bodies and minds. Please do everything you can to ensure that these important bills become law.

Thank you.

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Help Protect Michigan Children from Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water!

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