CountyTuesday, November 3
Kalamazoo County Jail water tests improve, but drinking precautions stay in place
The Daily Portage team
If you have someone at the Kalamazoo County Jail, there's good news on the water. September sampling showed improvements in lead and copper, with no detectable lead at most sampled locations. WWMT reports that all reported lead and copper concentrations were below the action levels used in the county's testing reports.
The jail water fix has moved from repairs to testing
- MarchCounty repairs the jail's water softener and flushes the plumbing system.
- AugustKalamazoo County Health Department recommends that no one drink the jail water.
- SeptemberWater sampling shows improved lead and copper levels.
- DecemberNext public update is expected, following more testing.
The precautions stay for now. "While we're getting closer to resolving these concerns, we need to be certain that the improvements we're seeing will continue before lifting the current precautions," Kalamazoo County Health Officer Deb Lenz said in a statement.
Up to 7water bottles a day that jail staff provide inmates
The jail has also moved to bottled water for food preparation.
- Still being evaluated: a limited number of locations
- Also involved: City of Kalamazoo and Michigan's environment department