DTE Energy : Foundation helping provide safe water at Detroit Public Schools

About 56,000 students, teachers, and staff at Detroit Public Schools will have a safe, permanent supply of drinking water thanks to support from the DTE Energy Foundation, which is among 12 corporations and nonprofits responding to a funding request from Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). Nearly 60 schools in Michigan's largest school district have drinking water contaminated with unsafe levels of lead and copper. Water coolers were placed in the schools as an interim solution, which the district recognizes as unsustainable.

To ensure Michigan's largest school district has safe, sustainable drinking water the DTE Energy Foundation is supporting a $3 million initiative by the DPSCD to install water hydration stations in all 106 of the city's public schools. The systems, which attach filtration and cooling units to existing pipes, are similar to those used in other school districts including Ann Arbor, Birmingham, and Royal Oak. The systems filter out lead, copper, and numerous other contaminants.

Students, teachers, staff, and volunteers like these at Davison Elementary-Middle School in Detroit's Campau Banglatown neighborhood will have clean drinking water thanks to support from the DTE Energy Foundation.

Dr. Nikolai Vitti, DPSCD superintendent, announced the drinking water solution following DPSCD School Board approval.

'The DTE Energy Foundation is proud to support the Detroit Public Schools Community District's Hydration Station initiative, ensuring that all the district's students have access to clean water,' said David Meador, DTE Energy vice chairman and chief administrative officer.

'We're honored to stand among so many of the region's leading companies in providing a long-term solution to this critical challenge facing the Detroit Public Schools Community District and its more than 50,000 students.'

Installation of more than 800 hydration stations will be complete by Fall 2019. One hydration station will be placed for every 100 students per school with additional stations in faculty lounges, kitchens, and gymnasiums.