• DRINKING WATER SAFETY AT BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

    This year's water testing began on October 19, 2020, and is ongoing at this time. We are not only testing for lead, copper but also for Legionella. This year BPS continued to employ Trace Analytical to secure water samples at each of our buildings. All sampling is done in accordance with the recommendations/Guidelines as provided by the MDEQ. Sampling results are available below as they come into the district. Legionella testing was done at EMSL analytical Inc. after samples gathered by Trace. We have had some positive results of Legionella and we are asking everyone to bring in their own drinking water or they can get bottled water on-site through Food Service.

    BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS

    Bottle filling stations have been taken off-line and should not be used until negative results at your building are received. After the negative results are received we can remove all bags or caution tape from them and begin using them again. Results by building will be posted below.

    SHOWERS

    All district showers should not be used until your building's report shows a negative result. See reports below.

    2020 LEGIONELLA TESTING

    BPS is working with Trace Analytical and EMSL Analytical Inc. to test District-wide. Because of the Pandemic, our buildings have been shut down for an extended time with little use. All the water piping in the building and with little use the water had become stagnant. We have and will continue to flush water lines daily. We are also heating up boilers and hot water tanks to at least 140 degrees as part of the recommended remediation process. BPS has also contracted with Arch Environmental to map water sources by building district-wide. This will be instrumental if remediation is needed. BPS has also hired Elin Betanzo with Safe Water Engineering to help us navigate through the results and possible remediation.

    WHAT IS LEGIONELLA? 

    Legionella is a bacterium that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, Pontiac fever, and more rarely, extrapulmonary infections, collectively known as legionellosis. People can get Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever when they breathe in small droplets of water in the air that contains Legionella. Legionella occurs naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems. There are many strains of commonly occurring Legionella. Most are considered pathogenic, but most disease is caused by Legionella pneumophila, particularly serogroup 1.2

    RESULTS

    As we test and results are available, we will be addressing areas of concern. We will be doing repairs and remediation if needed.

    The Adult Transition Program
    Seaholm High School/Adult Transition Center/Lincoln Street Alternative BPS has received results for the most recent water sampling completed at Seaholm. This includes samples collected after the most recent corrective actions, areas of the building that were not available for sampling over the summer, and targeted sampling within the science rooms. The sampling results show that legionella detections have dropped throughout the building and the water quality in the building is under control for legionella. As has been the case throughout this remediation process, there have been no Legionella pneumophila detections at Seaholm. The targeted sampling in the science labs identified individual faucets with persistent biofilms. Based on this representative sampling, several fixtures will be replaced as a corrective action and we are in the process of coordinating with the science faculty.
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/26/2020 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Lab Report 
    Legionella Lab Report 1/14/21     (Non-detected) 
    Legionella Sample Analysis 10/7/21 (Positive)

    Admin. EAC
    BPS Education and Administration Center*     The Administration Center is currently following mitigation measures enacted at Groves High School, as the buildings share a common plumbing system.   
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 11/14/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report      11/07/20

    Beverly
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 12/15/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report  12/13/20 
    Legionella Lab Report     1/14/21 (Non-Detected) 
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/14/21 (Non-Detected) 

    Bingham Farms
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 11/11/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report     11/24/20 (Non-Detected)
    Legionella Lab Report 7/14/2021     (Non-Detected) 

    Greenfield
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 11/11/20
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/15/21 (Non-Detected)

    Harlan 
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 12/08/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report  12/11/20
    Legionella Lab Report 1/19/21     (Non-Detected)
    Legionella Lab Report 6/15/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/26/21 (Positive) 

    Pembroke
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/11/20  (Non-Detected) 
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/16/21 (Non-Detected) 

    Pierce 
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 12/07/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report      12/18/20 (Non-Detected)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/14/21 (Non-Detected)

    Quarton
    Quarton Elementary School has shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing and controlling Legionella. The second floor hydration station had an isolated Legionella detection and will be replaced as we move forward with bond work. The station is out of service and samples will be taken once it is replaced. Water can continue to be used as normal in this facility.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report  12/07/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/21/20 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis  1/7/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis  2/22/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/06/21 (Positive)

    West Maple
    West Maple Elementary School has shown that the second round of chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing and controlling Legionella. Two faucets were replaced following the last round of testing in August. Water can continue to be used as normal in this facility. 
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report     12/29/20 (Positive)
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 
    Legionella Sampling Analysis     1/11/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis  2/22/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/06/21 (Positive)

    Groves
    BPS has received results for the most recent water sampling completed at Groves High School. This includes samples collected after the most recent corrective actions, representative sampling throughout the building, and targeted sampling in the science classrooms. The data below shows that the legionella is controlled, meeting all AHSRAE and CDC requirements, allowing Groves to move forward with normal water usage and masks are no longer required.
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report  11/11/20 (Positive)
    Legionella Sampling Analysis  1/4/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sampling Analysis     (2/2/21) (Positive)
    Legionella Sampling Analysis (7/29/21) (Positive)
    Legionella Sampling Analysis (10/6/21) (Positive)
    Legionella Sampling Analysis (4/1/22) (Non-Detected)

    Seaholm
    Seaholm High School/Adult Transition Center/Lincoln Street Alternative     BPS has received results for the most recent water sampling completed at Seaholm. This includes samples collected after the most recent corrective actions, areas of the building that were not available for sampling over the summer, and targeted sampling within the science rooms. The sampling results show that legionella detections have dropped throughout the building and the water quality in the building is under control for legionella. As has been the case throughout this remediation process, there have been no Legionella pneumophila detections at Seaholm. The targeted sampling in the science labs identified individual faucets with persistent biofilms. Based on this representative sampling, several fixtures will be replaced as a corrective action and we are in the process of coordinating with the science faculty.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 11/3/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 11/4/20 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 1/4/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis      2/10/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/22/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 10/7/21 (Positive)

    Midvale
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 11/20/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 11/7/20
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/16/21     (Non-Detected)

    BCS 
    Birmingham Covington School (BCS)     has shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in controlling and reducing Legionella. Additional remediation was conducted at three locations. Post-treatment sampling confirmed that three locations needed additional treatment and Legionella Pneumophila was detected. A water heater was removed and fixtures replaced, along with the installation of new water lines. With the mitigation strategies in place, it is important to continue using the water as normal to keep the water moving within the building. Water can continue to be used as normal in this facility.
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report (12/23/20) 
    Legionella Sample Analysis 1/6/21     (Non-Detected)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 1/14/21
    Legionella Sample Analysis 6/15/21 (Positive) 

    Berkshire
    Berkshire Middle School has shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing and controlling Legionella. Additional remediation included filters on faucets and the planned replacement of one hydration station as part of the bond work. Water can continue to be used as normal in this facility.
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/29/20 (Positive) 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report
    Legionella Sample Analysis      1/20/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis  2/24/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 8/2/21 (Positive)  

    Derby 
    Derby Middle School has shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing and controlling Legionella. Additional actions remaining include the replacement of a bottle filling station as part of the bond work, and the replacement of a faucet in the men’s restroom. Water can continue to be used as normal in this facility. 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/22/20 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 1/12/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis  2/24/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 8/3/21 (Positive) 

    District Pools
    Samples Collected 11/12/20
    Lead and Copper results 11/11/20
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 11/25/20 (Non-Detected)

    Mainenance and Facilities 
    BPS Maintenance and Facilities office     (Cole Street) has shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing and controlling Legionella. Water can continue to be used as normal in this facility.
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/29/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 12/29/20 (Positive) 
    Facilities Legionella Sample Analysis     1/21/21 (Positive)
    Facilities Legionella Sample Analysis 2/24/21 (Positive)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/14/21 (Non-Detected)

    BPS Environmental Center
    The following building was sampled for Legionella this summer using a building-wide representative sampling plan. Water can continue to be used as normal in these facilities. All of the samples collected were negative for Legionella.
    Legionella Sample Analysis (Non-Detected)
    Legionella Sample Analysis 7/14/21 (Non-Detected)

    District-Wide Bottle Filler Samples