Lead in Michigan communities’ drinking water demands ‘all hands on deck’ response, experts say

Twenty-five Metro Detroit communities exceeded Michigan’s lead action level for drinking water since 2018, according to state compliance data analyzed by a drinking water engineer and reviewed by Planet Detroit.The communities all receive water treated by the Great Lakes Water Authority, or GLWA. Despite repeated exceedances, regulators have not required the distribution of water filters, something experts say is warranted.The data is submitted to the state by community water systems as part of compliance with Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule, which requires systems to identify and remove lead pipes and expand testing and transparency.When lead levels in Benton Harbor’s drinking water were found to be high in 2018, it drew national attention. Residents petitioned the EPA to take action.Water experts say authorities need to learn the lessons of the lead crises in Flint and Benton Harbor and move more quickly to put public health first.

Water systems that exceed the lead action level are required to notify the public, conduct additional monitoring, and increase lead line replacements, which are tracked by Planet Detroit.

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