Macomb Today

The Macomb County Health Department is assisting the City of Eastpointe following notification from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that samples from the Eastpointe municipal water system have lead levels in the drinking water that exceed state standards. Water testing occurred as part of routine compliance sampling required by EGLE under Michigan’s Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Macomb County Health Department and Eastpointe are collaborating with other agencies on the following preventive actions:

• Providing public education and coordinating distribution of free water filters and cartridges. Water filters and cartridges will be available to Eastpointe water customers verified to have lead service lines in their home as well as residents who meet any of the State-mandated qualifications including: a child under 18 lives at the address; a child under 18 frequently spends time at this address (“frequently” means that a resident of the household provides care for at least several days per week for a few hours per day over three or more months per year); a pregnant woman lives at the address; a person receiving WIC benefits or Medicaid insurance lives at this address; or, a person can’t afford a filter and replacement cartridges (filters cost about $35 and replacement filters cost about $15).   
  • Water filter kits will be available at two separate distribution events:
    • Immediate (Drive-thru) distribution
      • Wednesday, October 19
      • Eastpointe Department of Public Works
        • 17750 Ten Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021
      • 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Eastpointe Lead Safe Open House and Filter Distribution
      • Wednesday, October 26
      • Eastpointe City Hall
      • 23200 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe, MI 48021
      • 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Water filters will be also be available for pick-up after October 19, 2022 at Eastpointe City Hall and Public Works Offices.
• Answering public questions:
  • For water testing/lead service line questions, contact the City of Eastpointe Department of Public Works at (586) 445-3661 - ext. 5.
  • For health related questions, contact the Macomb County Health Department Public Health Nursing program at (586) 469-5520.
    • Contact your primary care physician for testing your child’s blood for lead poisoning.

"The Macomb County Health Department is supporting the City of Eastpointe by distributing filters to qualifying families and by providing public education on ways to lower exposure to lead," said Andrew Cox, director/health officer of the Macomb County Health Department. "We strongly recommend that households with a child or pregnant woman in the City of Eastpointe use a certified lead filter to remove lead from their drinking water."

Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of corrosion, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass and chrome plated brass faucets and fittings and water service lines made of lead. More common sources of lead exposure include lead-based paint chips, dust, soil and imported goods. Populations at the highest risk of lead poisoning include children under 6-years-old living in older homes or homes with lead paint, pregnant women, adults exposed to lead due to their occupation and refugees.

The following actions can help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water:

• Replace faucets with those made in 2014 or later or marked “NSF 61/9” since they meet stricter limits.
• 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 your home or the building’s plumbing and the lead service line.
• Use cold, filtered water or bottled water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead.
• Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling will not reduce or remove the lead.
• Look for alternative drinking water sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled water or a water filter.
• Have your water tested for lead if you suspect that your home’s plumbing or faucets could contain lead or lead-based solder.
• Clean aerators. Aerators are small attachments at the top of the faucets which regulate the flow of water. They can accumulate small particles of lead in their screens. They should be removed and sanitized monthly.
• Install a water filter that is certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction. The EPA also recommends the filter be certified for NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction (Class 1). If a water filter is installed, replace cartridges at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer.

Original source can be found here.