DETROIT _ The Detroit school district is shutting off drinking water to all of its schools, after test results found elevated levels of lead or copper in 16 out of 24 schools that were recently tested.
"Although we have no evidence that there are elevated levels of copper or lead in our other schools where we are awaiting test results, out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our students and employees, I am turning off all drinking water in our schools until a deeper and broader analysis can be conducted to determine the long-term solutions for all schools," Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, said in a statement Wednesday.
Vitti said he had initiated water testing of all 106 school buildings in the spring to ensure the safety of students and employees. Water at 18 schools had been previously shut off.
"This was not required by federal, state or city law or mandate," Vitti said. "This testing, unlike previous testing, evaluated all water sources from sinks to drinking fountains."
The Detroit Free Press was shadowing Vitti on a day in May when the issue of water quality in the schools came up during a Cabinet meeting. Earlier that day, Vitti had learned that test results at several schools had come back showing elevated lead levels.
"I'm not playing around with this ... it's a safety issue," Vitti said during that meeting.
The district's building problems have been a constant source of frustration for Vitti. Earlier this summer, Vitti released details from a facilities review that found the district would need to spend $500 million now to fix the poor conditions in its schools. That price tag will rise to $1.4 billion in five years if the district did nothing.
In May, Vitti said the district didn't make the right investments in facilities while it was under the control of state-appointed emergency managers from 2009 to 2016. Vitti became superintendent in May 2017.
"It's sending the message to students, parents and employees that we really don't care about public education in Detroit, that we allow for second-class citizenry in Detroit," Vitti said then. "And that hurts my heart and it angers me and it frustrates me that I can't fix it right now."
At the 16 schools that had elevated copper and/or lead levels, the district took immediate action.
"I immediately turned off the drinking water at those schools and provided water bottles until water coolers arrive," Vitti said.
The 16 schools bring to 34 the number of schools where the district has already shut off drinking water.
Chrystal Wilson, spokeswoman for the district, said the drinking water would be shut off at all schools likely by the end of this week, and certainly before the beginning of the school year Tuesday.
Vitti said he had notified Mayor Mike Duggan of his decision to shut off the drinking water.
"The mayor's office plans to partner with us to determine challenges with water quality in our schools and solutions to them."
