Mt. Clemens, MI - The Macomb County Health Department is assisting St. Clair Shores following notification from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that samples from the St. Clair Shores municipal water system have lead levels in the drinking water exceeding revised 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 St. Clair Shores are collaborating with other agencies on the following preventive actions:
- St. Clair Shores residents may receive a complimentary water filter kit by calling the St. Clair Shores lead safe hotline: 586-447-3305 Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Complimentary faucet filters or pitcher filters and replacement cartridges will be available to citizens who meet the following qualifications:
- A child under 18 lives at the address.
- A person is a caregiver or a child under 18 frequently spends time at this address.
- A pregnant woman lives at the address.
- A person receiving WIC benefits or Medicaid insurance lives at this address.
- A person can’t afford a filter and replacement cartridges.
- For water testing/lead service line questions, contact the St. Clair Shores lead safe hotline: 586-447-3305.
- 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.
Because skin does not easily absorb lead from water, residents with lead service lines who do not currently have filtered water are encouraged to maintain best practices to help stop community spread of COVID-19 by continuing to wash their hands frequently. Unfiltered water is also safe for showering/bathing, dishes, clothes and cleaning.
"The Macomb County Health Department is supporting the City of St. Clair Shores in the distribution of filters to qualifying families and by providing public education on ways to lower exposure to lead," said Andrew Cox, Director/Health Officer for the Macomb County Health Department. "We recommend that households with a child or pregnant woman in this community use a certified lead filter to remove lead from their drinking water."
Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of corrosion, or wearing away, 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 your 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.
- Flush your lines if your water has not been used for several hours. 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 have a lead service line, run the water for at least five minutes to flush water from your home's plumbing and the lead service line. The longer the water has been sitting in the pipes, the more lead it may contain. You can fill containers for later use after the flushing process.
- 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.
Additional Resources:
MI Lead Safe Lead and Copper Rule Frequently Asked Questions
St. Clair Shores – Lead Safe Website
Public Advisory – St. Clair Shores
Macomb County Health Department
About the Macomb County Health Department
In partnership with the communities we serve, the mission of the Macomb County Health Department is to protect the health and well-being of all who live, work, and play in Macomb County. We pursue our mission by providing a wide range of programs and services that are delivered by Environmental Health Services, Family Health Services, Community Health Planning and Promotion, and our Disease Prevention and Control program. For more information, visit: https://health.macombgov.org/Health-Home.