MARQUETTE, MI— The City of Marquette has discovered elevated levels of lead in some homes.
Officials recently tested tap water from 32 residences. The 90th percentile of lead sampling results for the city was 19 parts per billion, which exceeds EGLE’S Action Level of 12 ppb.
An “Action Level exceedance” means that more than 10 percent of the homes tested—or six in this case—have results over 12 ppb. That triggers additional actions, like educational outreach to customers, sampling every six months, and replacing water service lines that are made of lead or were once connected to a lead component of the service line.
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of pregnant persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
Lead can enter drinking water when in contact with pipes, solder, home/building interior plumbing, fittings and fixtures that contain lead. Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water. 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. Additional flushing may be required for homes that have been vacant or have a longer service line.
How to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water
• Learn what your service line material is. Contact the City of Marquette Utility Inspector at (906) 225-8987, or atankka@marquettemi.gov or contact a licensed plumber to determine if the service line is made from lead, galvanized iron pipe, or other materials. Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human 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 a source of lead, such as one of the following:
Lead or galvanized plumbing.
A lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence.
Copper plumbing with lead solder before 1988 (EGLE recommendation).
Old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.
o Use the filter until you are able to remove sources of household lead plumbing, such as:
Replace pre-2014 faucets.
Get a lead inspection and replace needed plumbing.
o Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction (Class I).
o For filters to work properly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Run your water to flush out lead-containing water.
o 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.
o If you do have a lead service line, run the water for at least five minutes to flush water from your home or building’s plumbing and the lead service line.
• Use cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water and hot water should not be run through filters.
• Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Filter cold water, then boil the filtered water as necessary.
• Clean your faucet aerator to remove trapped debris.
Get your child tested to determine lead levels in their blood. Keep in mind that drinking water is not the only potential source of lead exposure because lead can be found in air, soil, and paint. A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about how you can have your child's blood tested for lead.
The City of Marquette source water sampling has not registered any detectable level of lead in the water. The water leaving the treatment plant is considered to have optimal corrosion control treatment. The City of Marquette developed the Complete Distribution System Materials Inventory (CDSMI) for their water system. The system does not have known lead in its water mains or service lines. The City of Marquette conducts regular WQP monitoring, source water monitoring, lead and copper monitoring. As a result of the monitoring, the City will conduct additional lead and/or water quality monitoring.
If you are a City of Marquette water customer and would like your service line inspected or would like to learn about testing your water for lead, contact the City of Marquette Utility Inspector at (906) 225-8987, atankka@marquettemi.gov or visit Michigan.gov/EGLELab for a list of certified labs.
If you are operating a food establishment such as a store, restaurant, bar, or food manufacturing establishment please visit this page Michigan.gov/MDARDLeadInfo for specific information for food firms.
The City of Marquette will soon send a comprehensive public education document about lead in drinking water. We will be collecting 60 samples from single family residences with copper plumbing installed with lead solder before 1988 every six months and reviewing the results to determine if corrective actions are necessary to reduce corrosion in household plumbing. Our ALE will be resolved when we have successfully completed two consecutive six-month monitoring rounds and the lead and copper 90th percentile values are below the action levels.
Additional information regarding lead can be found at Marquette’s website or at EGLE and MDHHS websites: www.marquettemi.gov, Michigan.gov/EGLELeadPublicAdvisory, Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe, and Michigan.gov/GetAheadOfLead. You can also call the DHHS Drinking Water Hotline at (844) 934-1315.
