By Brad Devereaux
mlive.com
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — It could take months to fix an issue that has Kalamazoo County Jail inmates relying on bottled water to drink.
Inmates have been restricted from drinking tap water at the jail since testing in March revealed elevated copper levels, requiring the jail to cut off access.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office has provided bottled water to inmates and staff since the disruption began, the county said.
A preliminary estimate indicated it could take six months or more to fix the issue. The timeline now depends on guidance from a state health expert, Kalamazoo County spokeswoman Taylor Koopman said.
People have posted online complaining about the water situation at the jail. An inmate told WWMT he was limited to three or four bottles of water per day.
County officials dispute that inmates are limited to a certain amount of water bottles per day.
Water remains safe for handwashing, showering and food preparation, according to the county.
Since the testing results were received, officials have taken steps to address the issue and better understand its cause.
These include:
- System-wide flushing
- Repairing the building’s water softener
- Replacement of water meters as part of previously scheduled infrastructure work by the city of Kalamazoo
Additional filtration measures have also been ordered and will be installed, Kalamazoo County said.
Destiny Reid posted online this month, saying inmates need to be relocated or pipes need to be fixed as soon as possible. She complained of the water situation and other issues at the jail. Reid knows individuals who are in the jail.
“I literally broke in tears interviewing these people,” Reid said.
A third round of testing was completed on April 9 , with results expected this week, the county said. Once the results are in, officials are expecting guidance from a Michigan Department of Health & Human Services state toxicologist to interpret the results and determine appropriate next steps.
For now, bottled water is being provided.
Water is distributed with each meal and additional bottles are available throughout the day upon request, Koopman said.
To maintain safety and manage waste, water is distributed using an exchange system, where empty bottles are swapped for full ones.
There is no restriction on access to drinking water, Koopman said, and additional water is provided as needed.
The sheriff’s office is also working to expand access by procuring water in larger quantities, such as in gallon containers, to support residents and staff during this time.
The county said it will continue to implement remediation measures and conduct ongoing testing until water quality meets state-established standards for safe consumption.
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