Michigan's Filter First Annual Certification Is Now Active — Here's What Your School District Needs to Do
Key Takeaways
- Starting May 1, 2026, Michigan building administrators began receiving Filter First certification notices from the state MiEHDWIS system.
- The first Annual Filter First Certification deadline is August 31, 2026.
- Certification is required even if your building isn't fully compliant yet — partial status is recorded in the system.
- All filtered fixtures and non-consumptive signage must be installed by June 2026.
- ETC can help you complete fixture inventories, water management plans, and certification documentation before the deadline.
First Annual Filter First Certification deadline for all Michigan schools and child care facilities covered under the Filter First law. Don't wait — the process takes time to set up if you haven't registered in MiEHDWIS yet.
If you're a school facilities manager, building administrator, or district operations director in Michigan, there's a good chance your inbox has already received a notice from the state. Starting today, May 1, 2026, MiEHDWIS — Michigan's Environmental Health and Drinking Water Information System — began sending Annual Filter First Certification requests to building administrators across the state.
This is the first year annual certification is required under Michigan's Filter First law. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what it means and what you need to do.
What Is Filter First?
Michigan's Filter First law requires schools and child care facilities to ensure students and staff have access to filtered drinking water. At minimum, buildings must provide at least one filtered consumptive source — a drinking fountain, bottle filler, or similar outlet — for every 100 students and staff members. Non-consumptive sources like handwashing sinks must be labeled with clear signage.
This year marks the first time annual certification is required. Going forward, schools must certify their compliance status each year through the state's online portal.
Got a Notice? Here's What to Do
- 1 Create a MiLogin for Business account if you don't already have one, then register for access to MiEHDWIS at Michigan.gov/MiEHDWIS.
- 2 Log in to MiEHDWIS and claim your entity using the Entity ID and PIN provided in your notification email. Each building has its own unique credentials.
- 3 Locate the Open Activities card on your dashboard and complete the Annual Filter First Certification activity. You'll be certifying the compliance status for the 2025–2026 school year.
- 4 Submit before August 31, 2026. Certification must be completed even if your building is not yet fully compliant — partial compliance is recorded in the system.
Key Requirements at a Glance
Filtered fixtures
Minimum 1 filtered consumptive source per 100 students and building staff. All fixtures must be installed by June 2026.
Signage
All non-consumptive sources must be labeled. Signs designating nonconsumptive outlets are required by June 2026.
Water management plan
Required at each building and available for review on site. Does not need to be submitted to the state. Update every 5 years at minimum.
Annual certification
Completed through MiEHDWIS each year. First deadline August 31, 2026. Annual sampling not yet required but will be added in the future.
Not Sure Where Your Building Stands?
Many districts are still working through fixture inventories and water management plan documentation — that's completely normal at this stage. The certification process is designed to capture where you are right now, not to penalize you for being in progress.
Answering "no" to a certification question does not automatically place you out of compliance, as long as you meet the minimum filtered source and signage requirements. The state's priority is getting districts registered and tracking progress, not issuing penalties for work still underway.
That said, if you haven't yet completed a fixture inventory or drafted a water management plan for your buildings, the time to start is now. The August 31 deadline will come faster than expected once you factor in the setup time to create MiEHDWIS accounts, claim entities, and gather building documentation.
How ETC Can Help
Our team has been supporting Michigan school districts and child care facilities through drinking water compliance for over 35 years. We offer turnkey support for the Filter First process, including:
- ✓ Fixture inventories — We document all consumptive and non-consumptive sources in your buildings and identify any gaps against the 1-per-100 requirement.
- ✓ Drinking Water Management Plans (DWMPs) — Whether you're starting from scratch or finalizing a draft, we help you create a structured, compliant plan aligned with EGLE guidelines.
- ✓ Post-installation water testing — EGLE-certified sampling and lab analysis after filter installation, with full documentation and reporting.
- ✓ Ongoing annual testing — We handle scheduling, sampling, and documentation so your district stays compliant year after year without the administrative burden.
Ready to get your district on track?
If you received a Filter First certification notice and aren't sure where to start — or if you need to complete a fixture inventory or water management plan before the August deadline — contact us today. We'll help you get sorted quickly.
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