Water Quality: Grosse Pointe North Students Test at Metro Beach

Lake St. Clair: What’s in the water? Students answer that question.

Grosse Pointe North High School students are testing water quality in Lake St. Clair. Results will come next week.

Environmental science students from Grosse Pointe North High School headed out of the classroom and onto the shoreline of Lake St. Clair to sample the water.

Testing for pollution, pH levels and other characteristics, the students also recorded how clear the water was and whether any animal or plant life was visible. Science teacher Chris Skowronski has assigned the analysis for five years, giving him enough data to make some valuable comparisons.

“Not to give away too many mysteries, but overall the water quality looks above average,” Skowronski said. “It’s not great, it’s not poor.”

Full results will be revealed at the event “Our Environment, Our Waterways” hosted by WDET and the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms.

Student Tommy Heinemann, a senior who is taking the environmental science class, says there is no better place to learn about water pollution issues than at the lake. “In the classroom, we basically watch other people do what we’re doing right now,” he said. “It’s cool to actually put it to the test and actually get out here in the field.”

He says he definitely wouldn’t drink the water, but he would consider swimming in it … when the weather is warmer.

 

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  • Sandra Svoboda
    Recovering Bankruptcy Reporter/Blogger looking forward to chronicling regional revitalization on-air, digitally and through community engagement.