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 have shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing Legionella. Outstanding remedial activities include changing the filter at one hydration station, replacing the kitchen sprayer and replacing 2-bathroom faucets, and continued flushing to maintain water quality throughout the building. At this time, individuals at Seaholm are asked to use water from home or provided bottled water as we continue to sample sites that were previously unavailable during construction in the facility over the summer. Masks should continue to be worn in the building as an added measure. Once results are returned and reviewed, these mitigation measures will be reevaluated. 
TRACE Legionella Lab Report 12/26/2020 
TRACE Lead and Copper Lab Report 
Legionella Lab Report 1/14/21 (Non-detected) 

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
Groves High School test results over the summer indicated that further work is needed. With several locations with Legionella Pneumophila, BPS and Arch Environmental continue to work with the Oakland County Health Division. Current remediation methods include weekly flushing and science lab site testing. At this time, individuals at Groves are asked to use water from home or provided bottled water for drinking. Masks should continue to be worn in the building as an added measure. Once results are returned and reviewed, this mitigation measure will be reevaluated. 
TRACE Lead and Copper Report 10/26/20
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)

Seaholm
Seaholm High School/Adult Transition Center/Lincoln Street Alternative have shown that the chlorine treatment has been effective in reducing Legionella. Outstanding remedial activities include changing the filter at one hydration station, replacing the kitchen sprayer and replacing 2-bathroom faucets, and continued flushing to maintain water quality throughout the building. At this time, individuals at Seaholm are asked to use water from home or provided bottled water as we continue to sample sites that were previously unavailable during construction in the facility over the summer. Masks should continue to be worn in the building as an added measure. Once results are returned and reviewed, these mitigation measures will be reevaluated.
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)

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