• DRINKING WATER SAFETY AT BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

    This years water testing began on October 19, 2020 and is on going 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 again. Results by building will be posted below.

    SHOWERS

    All district showers should not be used until your buildings 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 contain 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.

    Annex Samples Collected 12/13/20
    Legionella results 12/26/20 (Positive)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Lab Report 


    Admin. EAC Samples Collected 11/2/20
    Lead and Copper results 11/07/20
    Legionella results 11/14/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 

    Beverly Samples Collected 12/13/20
    Lead and Copper results 12/15/20
    Legionella Results 12/13/20 (Positive) 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 

    Bingham Farms Samples Collected 11/9/20
    Lead and Copper results 11/11/20
    Legionella results 11/24/20 (Non Detected)
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 

    Greenfield Samples Collected 11/9/20
    Lead and Copper results 11/11/20
    Legionella results 11/20/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report

    Harlan Samples Collected 11/03/20
    Lead and Copper results 12/08/20
    Legionella results 12/11/20 
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report

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

     Pierce Samples Collected 12/06/20
    Legionella results 12/18/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report
     TRACE Legionella Lab Report 

    Quarton Samples Collected 12/06/20
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 
    Legionella results 12/21/20 (Positive)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report

    West Maple Samples Collected 12/12/20
    Legionella results 12/29/20 (Postive)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
         TRACE Lead and Copper Report 

    Groves Samples Collected 10/26/20
    Lead and Copper results 10/26/20
    Legionella results 11/11/20 (Positive)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report

    Seaholm Samples Collected 10/19/20
    Lead and Copper results 11/3/20
    Legionella results 11/4/20  (Positive)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report

    Midvale Samples Collected 11/02/20
    Lead and Copper results 11/7/20
    Legionella results 11/20/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 

    BCS Samples Collected 12/06/20 
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 
    Legionella results 1/6/21 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report (12/23/20)
    Legionella Sample Results  (1/6/21)

    Berkshire Samples Collected 12/13/20
    Legionella results 12/29/20 (Positive) 
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report

    Derby Samples Collected 12/06/20
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report 
    Legionella results 12/22/20 (Positive)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report 

    District Pools/ Samples Collected 11/12/20
    Legionella results 11/17/20 (Non-Detected)
    Lead and Copper results 11/11/20
    Legionella results 11/20/20 (Non-Detected)
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report

    Transportation and Facilities Samples Collected 12/13/20
    Legionella results for Transportation 12/29/20 (Non Detected)
    Legionella results for Facilities 12/29/20 (Postive) 
    TRACE Legionella Lab Report
    TRACE Lead and Copper Report