Filter First Healthy Hydration Grant Reopened — Apply by Oct 17, 2025
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and EGLE have announced the Healthy Hydration Grant will remain open until October 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM. This Filter First program, originally launched in October 2024 with $50 million in federal funds, helps reimburse K-12 schools and licensed child care centers for filtered bottle fillers, tap-mounted filters, pitchers, and universal cartridge filters. Approximately $360,000 remains from the original $50 million; unused 2024 awards may be reallocated.
There are some limitations for funding, including that 2024 award recipients are not eligible to reapply. Funding may reimburse the following OASIS products:
- Filtered bottle-filling stations with a visual filter life indicator
- NSF/ANSI 53 and 42 universal cartridge water filters (in-line filter costs are not eligible)
Need help mapping your buildings and choosing compliant units? Our Michigan Filter First team can review your current fountains, recommend filtered bottle fillers, and provide quotes.
Please visit EGLE's Filter First site for more information about the grant and the application process.
Michigan Filter First Compliance Made Simple with OASIS
Ensuring every student has access to clean drinking water isn’t just good practice—it’s the law. Michigan’s Filter First legislation mandates that schools and childcare centers provide lead-free water through certified filtration solutions or decommission unfiltered fixtures by 2026. The countdown is underway, and facility managers like you need reliable, budget-friendly tools to meet these strict benchmarks without disrupting daily operations.
OASIS International has anticipated these challenges from day one. Our bottle filling stations, drinking fountains and in-line filters already satisfy Michigan Filter First compliance requirements, so you won’t waste time retrofitting subpar equipment. Each unit pairs lead-reducing filtration with intuitive filter-life indicators, allowing quick visual checks and timely cartridge changes. Installation is straightforward, maintenance is minimal and the long-term safety of your students is built into every component. When you choose OASIS, you choose confidence that stretches well beyond 2026.
What is Michigan Filter First Compliance?
Michigan’s Filter First law is a proactive approach to eliminating lead exposure at drinking water outlets where children learn and play. The regulation requires every school and childcare facility to install certified filtration or permanently shut off unfiltered fixtures—no exceptions, no loopholes. Its primary goal is simple: guarantee that every sip meets the state’s stringent lead threshold of five parts per billion or less.
To stay within the law, your hydration stations must meet several non-negotiable standards. In practical terms, that means outfitting each accessible tap with technology that removes lead, communicates filter status at a glance and delivers water in an ADA-compliant manner. Here is what the statute demands:
- Install NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certified lead-reducing filters at every drinking station
- Provide bottle fillers equipped with a clear visual filter status indicator
- Ensure drinking fountains feature an ADA-compliant bubbler for direct access
- Develop and maintain comprehensive drinking water management plans
Many administrators aren’t sure if their existing water fountains or bottle fillers satisfy these points. The good news is that every OASIS Michigan filter first compliance product already checks each box. There is no need for third-party retrofits, costly plumbing overhauls or incremental upgrades. You receive a turnkey solution engineered to pass inspections from day one, letting you focus on broader facility priorities instead of worrying about hidden lead issues.
Kids Deserve Clean Drinking Water
Growing minds and bodies rely on consistent hydration to stay alert, focused and healthy throughout the school day. When children have access to clean drinking water, they’re more likely to choose water over sugary alternatives, supporting cognitive function, regulating body temperature and preventing fatigue. In classrooms from Detroit to the shores of the Great Lakes, a dependable water supply becomes an invisible yet indispensable asset to learning outcomes.
Yet the stakes extend beyond immediate performance. Even trace amounts of lead can impair neurological development, lower IQ scores and cause long-term behavioral challenges. Because children absorb contaminants at a higher rate than adults, a seemingly small lapse in water quality can carry lifelong consequences. Michigan filter first programs acknowledge this vulnerability and insist on proactive filtration rather than reactive testing—placing prevention at the heart of every drinking station.
By integrating certified water filters directly into bottle fillers and drinking fountains, OASIS removes the guesswork and delivers peace of mind. Students can fill reusable bottles quickly, teachers can encourage healthy habits and you can demonstrate a tangible commitment to student well-being—all while aligning with Michigan filter first compliance standards.
Why Choose OASIS?
High-Quality, Compliant Hydration Solutions
Hassle-Free Maintenance
Staying ahead of inspections is easier when your equipment tells you exactly what it needs. Every electronic OASIS bottle filler includes a three-light monitor — green 🟢, yellow 🟡 and red 🔴 —that tracks filter capacity in real time. Michigan filter first regulations require annual testing and cartridge replacement, so the built-in indicator serves as a quick confirmation that you’re on schedule. By reducing guesswork, you slash downtime, lower labor costs and keep drinking water outlets consistently below the five-parts-per-billion lead limit.
Tilt 'N Tether, a Standup Solution
Traditional under-sink filter swaps force staff to kneel on hard floors and wrestle with shut-off valves. The patented Tilt ’N Tether system changes that narrative. Located at the top of on-the-wall models, the NSF-certified filter swings forward on a tether, allowing a quick twist for removal and replacement—no tools, no crawling and no leaks. Because the same cartridge also feeds the fountain bubbler, one swift change secures both drinking modes in under a minute.
With certification, sustainability, integration and maintenance all addressed, the next step is selecting the right product mix to match your building’s layout and traffic patterns.
Explore OASIS Michigan Filter First-Compliant Products
Contact Our Filter First Experts
Navigating new legislation can feel overwhelming, especially when every drinking outlet must be documented, filtered and routinely tested. OASIS eases that burden by pairing industry-leading equipment with hands-on expertise.
Our compliance specialists begin by helping you craft a detailed Drinking Water Management Plan. Together, we map each fountain, bottle filler and kitchenette tap, outline sampling schedules and set filter-replacement timelines that align with Michigan’s reporting deadlines. Once the plan is in place, we offer on-site product assessments to verify that current units meet code or to recommend the most cost-effective upgrades.
The support doesn’t stop after installation. Ongoing maintenance guidance, filter-life tracking tips and real-time troubleshooting keep your hydration program running smoothly year after year. If you’re a school administrator or facility manager seeking a seamless path to Michigan filter first compliance, reach out today. Our team is ready to deliver safe water solutions that protect students and simplify your workload. Facility managers often share a few core questions as they prepare for statewide compliance. The answers below address the most common concerns and clarify how OASIS keeps your program on track.
Michigan Filter First FAQs
Why is filtration important?
Lead remains present in older plumbing systems—pipes installed before 1986 contained unrestricted lead, and even “low-lead” alloys allowed up to 8 percent until 2011. The EPA and CDC agree there’s no safe level of lead for children because exposure can lower IQ, slow development and trigger behavioral issues. OASIS filters, certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, reduce lead, cysts, chlorine, taste and odor while meeting Particulate Class I standards. In short, they transform potentially hazardous water into clean drinking water that protects students’ health.
What do I need to do first for the Filter First Program?
By January 24, 2025 each facility must establish a Drinking Water Management Plan. That document should:
- List every drinking water outlet on campus
- Provide a schedule for sampling, testing and filter replacement
- Explain communication protocols for staff, parents and the public
How can I change my filter?
With OASIS Tilt ‘N Tether technology, the lone NSF-certified cartridge sits at the top of the bottle filler. Simply unlatch, tilt forward and twist the spent filter off, then thread on the new one—no crawling under units, no tools and no valve leaks. The entire swap takes about a minute and restores full filtration to both the bottle filler and fountain bubbler.
Are OASIS drinking fountains easy to install?
Yes. Each unit features a Universal Rough-In that aligns with standard plumbing and electrical connections. Mechanical activation models require no wiring at all, and most installations finish in under an hour, limiting hallway disruptions and labor costs.
By addressing these FAQs and partnering with OASIS, you gain a clear roadmap to Michigan filter first compliance—without the guesswork.
Beyond providing the right hydration solutions, OASIS helps schools navigate compliance. From developing a Drinking Water Management Plan to on-site product assessments, we work with institutions to ensure a smooth transition to safer drinking water. If you’re a school administrator or facility manager looking for a reliable, hassle-free hydration solution, OASIS is here to help.