DETROIT – More than two dozen Detroit schools have been closed due to a boil water advisory affecting parts of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park, officials announced Wednesday night.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) has listed the following schools in the closure:
- Blackwell Institute
- Ben Carson
- Bunche
- Burton International
- Carstens
- Cass Technical High
- Chrysler
- Davison Elementary
- Davis Aerospace @ Golightly
- Detroit Collegiate Preparatory
- Detroit Lions Alternative Education
- Detroit International Academy for Young Women
- Detroit School of Arts
- Douglass, Frederick
- Durfee
- GEE White Pre-K only
- Golightly Ed Center
- Holmes, A.L.
- Hutchinson@Howe
- Keidan
- King High School
- Marcus Garvey
- Marshall, T.
- Moses Field
- Nichols
- Robeson/Malcom X
- Spain
- Thirkell
"As a further precautionary measure the district has made the decision to close the 26 schools in the affected area and to err on the side of caution," officials said in a statement.
The announcement was made just minutes before 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Officials said they had been talking about whether to open or close throughout the night and had plans in place to bring bottled water and disposable utensils to the schools.
But officials said they received a lot of calls from parents who are concerned and upset that their children were drinking the water Wednesday and didn't realize they were under a boil water advisory.
The decision to close the schools was made out of "an abundance of caution."
When DPSCD was given a list of schools affected by the advisory Wednesday morning, it wasn't complete. More than a dozen schools, including Cass Technical High School, were added to the list Wednesday night.
"I'm really not concerned at whose issue it is, my concern is our staff and our students were there all day consuming this water," parent Lamethia Champion said.
Parents said communication was poor from Detroit schools and the water department. They didn't feel comfortable with their students returning to school on Thursday.
"How are you going to get all of these supplies delivered to 25 schools by the start of school tomorrow when you have a problem getting regular supplies delivered to schools on a regular basis?" Champion said.
The school district heard parents' concerns and decided to close 26 schools.
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said the water is safe for washing hands when used with soap, but the water shouldn't be used for drinking or cooking. Water in these schools can't be consumed over the next 48 hours unless it's boiled first.
The Office of School Nutrition and DPSCD Physical Plant Operations will provide bottled water at the campuses.
Disposable utensils will be used for food service, and bottled water will be used for cleaning fruits and vegetables.
MAP: Are you part of the boil water alert in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck? Check here
Officials said a temporary drop in water pressure could have caused a potential bacterial contamination in the water system.
The boil water advisory is for the area south of McNichols to the Detroit River and east of Linwood to Conner.
Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout the environment. Measures are being undertaken to correct the situation.
For more on what you should do during a boil water advisory, click here.
Stay with ClickOnDetroit.com throughout the night and tomorrow for updates on the boil water alert.