Overview:

- Michigan and federal regulations mandate water systems to inform residents about lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines, aiming to mitigate lead exposure risks.
- Lead service lines pose a threat by potentially contaminating drinking water with lead.
- The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) offers free water testing and lead-reducing filters to homes affected by lead service line or water main replacements.
- DWSD is addressing the significant task of replacing all lead service lines in the city, a project estimated to cost $1 billion.

This story also appeared in BridgeDetroit.

If you recently received a letter from your local water utility about your service line material, you might have questions about what it means and what to do next. 

With new federal and state rules requiring water systems to inventory and notify residents about lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines, understanding the risks and next steps is crucial. 

This FAQ breaks down the key details, why these notifications are happening now, and how to protect yourself and your family.

Question

Why are people across Metro Detroit receiving letters about lead in their service lines?

Under Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), water systems must notify households with lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines. These letters are part of efforts to inform residents about potential risks associated with their water service lines and provide guidance on reducing lead exposure.

In addition to these notifications, water systems serving more than 50,000 people are required to publish their inventories online for public access, ensuring residents can check their service line materials directly. Smaller systems must also make their inventories accessible, either online or through other public records. These transparency requirements are designed to help residents better understand their potential exposure and hold utilities accountable for addressing lead risks.

Here is a link to some of the inventories:

learn more

Why are these letters being sent now?

Michigan updated its Lead and Copper Rule in 2018, requiring water systems to complete service line inventories and replace all lead service lines by 2041. The EPA later introduced stricter federal rules, setting an earlier deadline for inventories and public notifications. Michigan water systems had to complete their inventories by Oct. 16, 2024, and notify residents of lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines by Nov. 15, 2024. These efforts are designed to increase transparency and reduce the risk of lead exposure nationwide.

Is my drinking water safe?

“Yes, Detroit’s water is safe,” said Gary Brown, head of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). “Our city has not exceeded the federal action level for lead in over 20 years, and we maintain some of the highest water quality standards in the world.” 

Detroit’s water is treated with a corrosion-control additive at its treatment plants, which helps prevent lead from leaching into the water from pipes and fixtures.

However, systems across the region and state can and do experience lead action level exceedances, particularly in communities with aging infrastructure and high concentrations of lead service lines. These exceedances occur when water samples reveal lead levels above 15 parts per billion (ppb) in more than 10% of homes tested, triggering regulatory and corrective actions. 

Metro Detroit communities with lead action level exceedances in 2024 include Harper Woods, Redford Township, Livonia, Garden City and the Shorewood Hills Subdivision in Bloomfield Township.

Lead found in tap water usually comes from the corrosion or deterioration of lead service lines, galvanized steel pipes, the solder that connects pipes to one another or brass fittings and fixtures. Lead service lines are the largest potential source of lead in water.

When water is in contact with leaded materials, lead can dissolve or break off into the water. The longer water sits in contact with plumbing that contains lead, the more lead can leach into the water. Corrosion control treatment reduces but does not eliminate lead in drinking water. Water treated and distributed by the Great Lakes Water Authority includes corrosion control treatment. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services (MDHHS) recommends that Michigan households use a certified lead-reducing drinking water filter if your home has or if you are uncertain if it has one of the following:

  • Lead or galvanized plumbing.
  • A lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence.
  • Old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014. 

What do the terms in the letter mean, and how might they affect me?

If you received a letter from your water utility, it likely included terms to describe the type of service line connecting your home to the public water system. Here’s what they mean and how they might impact you:

  • Lead service line: This is a pipe made entirely or partially of lead that connects your home to the main water system. Lead pipes are the primary source of lead contamination in drinking water, particularly when water sits stagnant in the line. If your letter identifies your service line as lead, you should take steps to reduce exposure, such as flushing your tap, using a certified lead-reducing filter, and staying informed about replacement plans in your area.
  • Galvanized service line: These are steel pipes coated with zinc. If these pipes were ever connected to lead pipes, they may retain lead particles, posing a similar risk to lead service lines. Under federal rules, galvanized pipes that were previously connected to lead are classified as requiring replacement. If your line is identified as galvanized, it’s important to follow the same precautions as for a lead line.
  • Unknown service line: When your water utility cannot determine the material of the service line—due to incomplete records or the need for physical inspection—the line is classified as “unknown.” Until verified, these lines are treated as potentially containing lead. If your letter says your service line is unknown, you should assume there is some risk and take precautionary measures. Your utility may eventually inspect or replace the line to confirm its material.

What should I do if I have a lead, galvanized or unknown service line?

  • Use a lead-reducing filter: Certified filters meeting NSF/ANSI Standard 53 can help reduce lead levels. Be sure to use and maintain the filter correctly.
  • Run your water: Flush your pipes for at least five minutes after water has been sitting stagnant.
  • Clean faucet aerators: Debris and lead particles can collect in faucet screens. Cleaning them regularly can reduce exposure.
  • Use cold water: Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Lead dissolves more easily in hot water.
  • Contact your water system: Ask about plans for replacing your service line and whether free filters or other assistance is available.

Here’s more advice from EPA.

Why are lead service lines a concern?

Lead is a toxic metal that can leach into drinking water from lead pipes, fixtures, or solder. Exposure to lead can cause:

  • Developmental and behavioral issues in children.
  • Learning disabilities and reduced IQ.
  • Risks to pregnant individuals, including potential harm to developing fetuses.
  • Increased risk of high blood pressure, kidney damage, and other health problems in adults.

The CDC and EPA have stated that there is no safe lead level in drinking water.

What is my community doing to test lead in my water?

Under both Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), community water systems are required to test for lead in drinking water at regular intervals and follow specific procedures to ensure the results accurately reflect risks to public health.

Water systems must identify and prioritize high-risk sampling locations, such as homes with lead service lines, galvanized pipes previously connected to lead, or plumbing installed before 1986.

Larger water systems (serving over 100,000 people) typically conduct lead testing every six months or annually, while smaller systems may test less frequently if they demonstrate compliance with action levels. 

Michigan’s updated LCR requires sampling to include the “first liter” (water that first comes out of the tap) and the “fifth liter” (to capture water sitting in the service line), ensuring a more comprehensive assessment of lead in the system. Federal rules currently require only the first liter but are evolving to incorporate more stringent requirements.

If more than 10% of samples exceed the action level for lead (currently 15 parts per billion federally and 12 ppb in Michigan starting Jan. 1, 2025), the water system must take corrective actions. These actions include public notification, increased monitoring, adjustments to corrosion control treatment, and accelerated lead service line replacement. 

Both state and federal rules require water systems to notify residents of an action level exceedance within 24 hours. Utilities must also include annual lead and copper results in their Consumer Confidence Reports, which are distributed every June. You can find the most recently published sampling data at EGLE’s website.

What is a lead action level exceedance?

A lead action level exceedance occurs when a water system’s routine monitoring and testing reveals that more than 10% of sampled homes have lead levels exceeding a regulatory benchmark. 

An exceedance does not mean that all homes in a water system have unsafe lead levels, but it signals that the system as a whole requires improvements to reduce the overall risk of lead exposure. 

This threshold is 15 ppb under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. However, in Michigan, the action level will be lowered to 12 ppb starting Jan. 1, 2025, under the state’s stricter Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). Michigan’s decision to adopt this lower threshold makes it one of the most stringent in the country.

Exceeding the lead action level requires water systems to take immediate corrective actions, including:

  1. Notifying the public: Inform residents about the exceedance and provide steps to reduce exposure.
  2. Corrosion control measures: Adjust water treatment to prevent lead from leaching into drinking water from pipes or fixtures.
  3. Lead service line replacement: Accelerate the replacement of lead service lines in the affected area.
  4. Increased monitoring: Conduct additional water testing to closely monitor lead levels.

How can I get my water tested?

DWSD offers free water testing for Detroit residents with concerns about lead exposure. Visit the city’s website to request a free test kit. For additional resources, contact DWSD’s Public Affairs office.

Many other water systems offer free water testing for households with lead service lines. Contact your local water utility to request a test.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides testing kits to eligible households, particularly those with children or pregnant individuals. Call the MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 1-844-934-1315 for assistance.

Independent testing is also available through certified labs. Residents who want to test their home’s drinking water for lead can contact a state-certified lab for lead and copper testing. 

Can I get help paying for a water filter?

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) provides free lead-reducing filters to homes where lead service lines or water mains are being replaced. 

“DWSD will provide pitcher filters ONLY to homes where a water main or lead service line are being replaced on their block, which is done as a precautionary measure – there is no requirement nor no change in water quality that would necessitate filters being distributed citywide,” said DWSD spokesperson Bryan Peckinpaugh

What is my community doing about replacing lead service lines?

Detroit: Detroit is tackling the challenge of replacing all lead service lines in the city, aligning with federal requirements under the Biden-Harris administration’s mandate to remove all lead service lines in the U.S. by 2034. Detroit’s effort is part of a nationwide push driven by the EPA’s revised Lead and Copper Rule, which requires water systems to replace at least 10% of their lead service lines annually.

Detroit has an estimated 80,000 lead service lines and another 20,000 classified as unknown, which are treated as lead until verified otherwise. The total cost of replacing these 100,000 lines is projected to reach $1 billion. 

Over 11,300 lead service lines have already been replaced, and the city spent more than $100 million on replacements in 2023, with $90 million coming from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and $30 million from local DWSD bond funds. The city has also applied for an additional $100 million in federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to maintain its current pace.

DWSD is replacing lines neighborhood by neighborhood, prioritizing areas with the highest needs, including low-income communities, neighborhoods with older housing stock and areas with high concentrations of children and seniors.

“It’s a $1 billion, 10-year project,” said DWSD Director Gary Brown. “We have to ensure not only that we’re providing the safest, cleanest water in America but also that it remains affordable for our residents.”

Highland Park: Highland Park is working to replace its estimated 2,828 lead service lines by 2031, ten years ahead of the state’s 2041 deadline under Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule. Since 2020, the city has replaced 686 lines. 

The city’s program is funded through federal and state resources, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), ensuring replacements come at no cost to residents. 

Other communities across the region are also working to replace lead service lines. Check with your local water utility for more information. 

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Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.