Diya Suresh
Research Mentor: Jessica Cruz
Mentor Department: Center for Social Solutions, LSA
Author(s): Diya Suresh, Jessica Cruz, Julie Arbit
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 53
Abstract
Water contamination is affecting schools across the country, permeating the water in drinking fountains. Crucially, unclean water poses a significant health risk. Lead exposure has been found to damage the nervous system (Lead Exposure in Children, n.d.). The cognitive effects predictably lead to educational decline. Coliform contamination in water was found to increase student absences, in turn negatively impacting student test scores (Marcus, n.d.). In response to these concerns, Filter First was passed in Michigan in 2023. This law addressed many of the issues above, requiring schools to develop a Drinking Water Management Plan (DWMP), install lead reducing filters on all consumptive filters, and test filtered water (Filter First, n.d.). Filter First has significant advantages over its predecessor, “Test and Chaseâ€, the current method that has been utilized for years and is still in use in the majority of the country, which involves infrequent lead testing, then only looking for lead after a positive test result. However, there are still challenges with implementation of the Filter First policies involving: funding for new filter technology, filter maintenance, regular testing, sensors to detect contaminants, and more—along with educating and informing the larger community on water quality. The Center for Social Solutions at the University of Michigan, in collaboration with the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, aims to bridge the gap between legislation and implementation. By encouraging data transparency, federal standardization of lead policy across states, and further support for schools to implement novel, predictive technology that will detect contaminants in water, this research aims to protect students nationwide.
