IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER
Orig. (8/3) Notice | Public Notice (PDF) | Tips to Reduce Exposure | Additional Resources
CITY OF THREE RIVERS has exceeded the action level for lead. Lead can cause serious health and development problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
This notice is brought to you by City of Three Rivers
Water Supply Serial Number: 06610
Distribution Date: August 29, 2023
Health Effects of Lead
Lead can cause serious health and development problems. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother’s bones, which may affect brain development. Although other sources of lead exposure exist, such as lead paint, and lead contaminated dust, City of Three Rivers is contacting you to reduce your risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. If you have questions about other sources of lead exposure, please contact Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency.
Sources of Lead
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure due to the widespread use of lead in plumbing materials. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person’s potential exposure to lead. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
The action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb) for lead and 1.3 parts per million (ppm) for copper. The action level is a measure of corrosion control effectiveness. It is not a health-based standard. To meet the requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule, 90 percent of the samples collected must be below the action level. The following table summarizes the lead and copper data collected during the most recent monitoring period:
Most Recent Sampling Information:
| Action Levels | 90th Percentile Value | Range of results (minimum-maximum) |
# of samples used for 90th Percentile |
| Lead 15 parts per billion (ppb) | 19 ppb | 0-4,338 ppb | 47 |
| Copper 1.3 parts per million (ppm) | 0.3 ppm | 0-0.6 ppm | 47 |
Lead can enter drinking water when pipes, solder, home/building interior plumbing, fittings and fixtures that contain lead corrode. Corrosion is the dissolving, or wearing away, of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing. Several factors affect the amount of lead that enters the water, including the water quality characteristics (acidity and alkalinity), the amount of lead in the pipes, plumbing and/or fixtures, and the frequency of water use in the home.
Some plumbing products such as service lines, pipes and fixtures may contain lead. The infographic below demonstrates where sources of lead in drinking water could be in your home. Older homes may have more lead unless the service line and/or plumbing has been replaced. Homes built…
- Before the 1960s are more likely to have lead service lines, lead pipes, fixtures, and/or solder that contain lead.
- Before 1988 are likely to have fixtures and/or solder that contains lead.
- Between 1996 and 2014 are likely to have fixtures that contain up to eight percent lead but were labelled “lead-free.”
- In 2014 or later still have potential lead exposure. “Lead free” was redefined to reduce lead content to a maximum of 0.25 percent lead in fixtures and fittings. Fixtures that are certified to meet NSF Standard 61 meet this more restrictive definition of “lead free.”
Leaded solder and leaded fittings and fixtures are still available in stores to use for non-drinking water applications. Be careful to select the appropriate products for repairing or replacing drinking water plumbing in your home.
Galvanized plumbing can be a potential source of lead. Galvanized plumbing can absorb lead from upstream sources like a lead service line. Even after the lead service line has been removed, galvanized plumbing can continue to release lead into drinking water over time. Homes that are served by a lead service line should consider replacing galvanized plumbing inside the home.
Drinking water is only one source of lead exposure. Other common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint, and lead-contaminated dust or soil. Because lead can be carried on hands, clothing, and/or shoes, sources of exposure to lead can include the workplace and certain hobbies. Wash your children’s hands and toys often as they can come in contact with dirt and dust containing lead. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, food, and cosmetics. If you have questions about other sources of lead exposure, please contact Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency.
Particulate Lead
Lead results can vary between tests. A single test result is not a reliable indicator of drinking water safety. Two different types of lead can be present in drinking water, soluble lead and particulate lead. Soluble lead is lead that dissolves because of a chemical reaction between water and plumbing that contains lead. Particulate lead is dislodged scale and sediment released into the water from the sides of the plumbing and can vary greatly between samples. Disturbances, such as replacing a water meter, construction and excavation activities, or home plumbing repairs can cause particulates to shake free from inside pipes and plumbing. Particulate lead is a concern because the lead content can be very high. Lead particulate could be present in a single glass of water, but not present in water sampled just before or after. During construction, monthly aerator cleaning and using a filter certified to reduce lead are recommended to reduce particulate lead exposure.
Check whether your home has a lead service line.
Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water. Please contact City of Three Rivers for more information about your home’s service line.
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Public Notice (PDF)
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water
- Run your water to flush out lead. The more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain. Therefore, if your water has not been used for several hours, run the water before using it for drinking or cooking. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
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- If you do not have a lead service line, run the water for 30 seconds to two minutes, or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature.
- If you do have a lead service line, run the water for at least five minutes to flush water from both the interior building plumbing and the lead service line.
Additional flushing may be required for homes that have been vacant or have a longer service line. Your water utility can help you determine if longer flushing times are needed.
- Everyone can consider using a filter to reduce lead in drinking water.
MDHHS recommends every household use a certified lead filter to reduce lead from their drinking water, especially households with a child, or a child frequently visits the home, pregnant person, or individual with high blood pressure, or people residing in houses built before 1987.
Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reducti
on (Class I). Some filter options include a pour-through pitcher or faucet-mount systems. If the label does not specifically mention lead reduction, check the Performance Data Sheet included with the device. Be sure to maintain and replace the filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
If your household has a child, or a child frequently visits the home, or pregnant person and are not able to afford the cost of a lead filter, please contact City of Three Rivers 269-273-1845.
- Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
- 4. Use cold water for preparing baby formula. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula. MDHHS recommends using bottled water or a filter certified to reduce lead to prepare baby formula.
- Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead levels.
- Consider purchasing bottled water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water. The bottled water standard for lead is 5 ppb.
- Get your child tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure. Your local health agency is Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency 269-273-2161.
- Identify older plumbing fixtures that likely contain lead. Older faucets, fittings, and valves sold before 2014 may contain higher levels of lead, even if marked “lead-free.” Faucets, fittings, and valves sold after January 2014 are required to meet a more restrictive “lead-free” definition but may still contain up to 0.25 percent lead. When purchasing new plumbing materials, it is important to look for materials that are certified to meet NSF standard 61. The EPA prepared a brochure that explains the various markings that can indicate that materials meet the new “lead free” definition: https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100LVYK.txt.
- Clean your aerator. The aerator on the end of your faucet is a screen that will catch debris. This debris could include particulate lead. The aerator should be removed at least every six months to rinse out any debris.
- Test your water for lead. Call us at 269-273-1845 to find out additional information on how to get your water tested for lead. Testing can be completed by the EGLE lab for a cost. Their number is 517-335-8184. When requesting a test kit, please make sure to choose the correct lab code based on the three different service line groups.
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- All homes with a known lead or galvanized service line should use the 1st/5thmethodology to attempt to characterize the risk of exposure associated with the service line. (lab code 36CCUB; $52)
- All homes with an unknown service line materials should also use the 1st/5thmethodology to attempt to characterize the risk of exposure associated with the service line. (lab code 36CCUB; $52)
- All homes with service line materials that are known to not be lead or galvanized should use the 1stdraw 1L process (lab code 36CC; $26)
What Happened? What is Being Done?
City of Three Rivers conducts testing of tap water in homes for lead and copper. This testing takes place at homes with known lead service lines.
Between April and June 2023, we collected samples from 47 homes. 6 homes had results above 15 ppb and the 90th percentile for our samples was above the Action Level for lead.
MDHHS is offering free certified lead-reducing filters and replacement cartridges to eligible households. These criteria are:
- A child under 18 or a pregnant person lives in the home, or a child frequently visits the home, and
- A member of the household is enrolled in Medicaid or WIC, or the household is unable to afford a filter.
| Filters can be obtained at: | |
| City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services 1015 S. Lincoln Avenue Three Rivers, MI Phone: 269-273-1845 Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
City of Three Rivers City Hall 333 W. Michigan Ave. Three Rivers, MI Phone: 269-273-1075, x110 Hours: M, W-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., ____Tues. 11 am to 4:30 pm |
City of Three Rivers has lead service lines. Lead can enter drinking water when it is in contact with pipes, solder, home/building interior plumbing, fittings and fixtures that contain lead. City of Three Rivers does not currently employ corrosion control treatment to reduce lead leaching. However, moving forward, we will be completing a corrosion control treatment plan or study proposal. Long term plans are for continued lead service line replacement. The City has been actively replacing lead service lines, when identified during construction, since the 1980’s.
If you are a City of Three Rivers water customer and would like your service line inspected or would like to have your drinking water tested for lead, contact the City of Three Rivers at 269-273-1845.
We are required to collect 40 samples every six months and review the results to determine if corrective actions are necessary to reduce corrosion in household plumbing.
For More Information
Call us at 269-273-1845 (or visit the city’s website at www.threeriversmi.org). Additional information available at Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe or Michigan.gov/EGLEleadpublicadvisory. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Web site at Epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD, or contact your healthcare provider.
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Posted August 29, 2023
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Additional Resources:
For the City’s annual water quality reports, click here.
Lead Education
- Know the facts about lead
- Well fed means less lead
- Adult exposure to lead
- Pregnant and Breastfeeding Persons
Lead in Drinking Water
- Cleaning your aerators
- How Lead Gets into Drinking Water Video
- How can I protect myself from lead in water? Video
- PUR faucet filter installation
- How to use your PUR pitcher
- BRITA faucet filter installation
- How to use your BRITA pitcher filter
