Shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, the City of Three Rivers announced that once again, the drinking water system has a lead action level exceedance. Three Rivers previously announced lead action level exceedances in August 2023 and February 2024.
A lead action level exceedance means that locations within the drinking water system have lead test results over 15 parts per billion (ppb). That amount is the EPA drinking water Action Level. Tests collected between January and June 2024 showed that six homes had results above 15 ppb, the city stated.
Between January and June 2024, Three Rivers continued taking samples from known lead service lines when it collected 1st and 5th liter samples from 44 sampling locations.
“The ‘Action Level’ is a measure of corrosion control effectiveness; it is not a health-based standard,” the city stated. “The goal for lead in drinking water is 0 ppb; there is no safe level of lead in the blood. An ‘Action Level Exceedance’ means that more than 10% of the homes tested have results over 15 ppb.”
Because of the exceedance, the City of Three Rivers is continuing with educational outreach to customers, taking samples every six months, assessing the water’s corrosivity, and replacing service lines.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) evaluates compliance with the Action Level based on the 90th percentile of lead and copper results collected in each round of sampling. The lead 90th percentile for Three Rivers’ water supply is 28 ppb, which exceeds the Action Level of 15 ppb.
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 a home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain. If the water has not been used for several hours, affected residents are advised to 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.
There are ways to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water:
- 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.
- Run your water to flush out lead-containing water. 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 building’s plumbing and the lead service line.
- MDHHS recommends that Michigan households use a certified lead-reducing drinking water filter if their home has or if they are uncertain if it has 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), or old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.
- Use the filter until you are able to remove sources of household lead plumbing, such as replacing pre-2014 faucets, getting a lead inspection and replacing needed plumbing. When choosing a filter, ook 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). For filters to work properly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not use hot water for drinking, preparing food, or cooking, or preparing or preparing baby formula.
- Do not boil your water, as boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in water.
- Clean your faucet aerator to remove trapped debris.
MDHHS is offering free certified lead-reducing filters and replacement cartridges to City of Three Rivers households that meet both of the following:
- Have or are unsure if they have lead or galvanized plumbing, a lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence, or old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.
- Include a Medicaid-enrolled child or children under 19 or Medicaid-enrolled pregnant person.
Foster care providers may be eligible for filter safety net assistance, please call 844-934-1315 or more information.
Filters can be obtained at:
- City of Three Rivers
Department of Public Services
1015 S. Lincoln Avenue
Three Rivers, MI
269-273-1845
Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. - City of Three Rivers
City Hall
333 W Michigan Avenue
Three Rivers, MI
269-273-1075
Hours: M, W-F 8 am to 4:30 pm
Tue 11 am to 4:30 pm - Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph
Community Health Agency
1110 Hill Street
Three Rivers, MI
269-273-2161
Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
On Thursday, the City of Three Rivers said it will soon send a comprehensive public education document about lead in drinking water.
“We will continue collecting at least forty (40) samples every six months and reviewing the results to determine what corrective actions are necessary to reduce corrosion in household plumbing,” the city stated.
If you have questions about:
- Service line materials for your home: Contact the City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services at 269-273-1845 to learn more about their service line and schedule an inspection.
- Testing your water for lead: Contact the City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services at 269-273-1845 to learn more. Or to contact the EGLE laboratory, visit Michigan.gov/EGLElab and select “Drinking Water Laboratory.” Select “Laboratory Certification Program” for a list of certified labs statewide.
- Health related questions: Contact the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Services at 269-273-2161.
- Operating a food establishment such as a store, restaurant, bar, or food manufacturing establishment: Visit this page Michigan.gov/mdardleadinfo for specific information for food firms.
- Regulatory questions about the Safe Drinking Water Act: Contact EGLE at 800-662-9278.
- MDHHS filter eligibility questions: MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 844-934-1315.
Pokagon Health Services is also providing support for Pokagon Band Citizens. Please contact Pokagon Health Services at 269-782-4141.
Additional information regarding lead can be found at City of Three Rivers’ website or EGLE’s website.
Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
