OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The Flint water crisis made headlines across the county, and many people came to see water contamination as a Flint problem. But it's much more widespread than that.
A new study showed the threat of lead in water might be as close as your own kitchen.
The acceptable maximum level of lead in water is 15 parts per billion, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Testing in Flint from January through June showed 7 parts per billion, which is acceptable, compared to the last six months of 2016, during which testing found 12 parts per billion in the water. In the first half of 2016, testing found a dangerous 20 parts per billion.
But lead in the water isn't just a Flint problem.
"There's a lot of reasons why inside your own home you can have issues with your pipes that go to your sinks, etc.," said Monica Starks, of GS Group.
Across Michigan, 71 water systems show a higher lead count than that for the city of Flint, and even in communities with acceptable levels, individual homes can be at risk.
"If you have all PVC pipes in your house, not a problem," Starks said. "But if you do have lead lines that do come into your house, then you want to pay a little more attention."
Homes built before 1986 are the most likely to have lead in the pipes. There are some simple things you can do to add an extra layer of protection from contaminants.
"Only get your drinking water or cooking water from the cold tap," Starks said.
Should everyone consider testing their water?
"If you have young kids at home, particularly under the age of 6, you might want to have your water tested," Starks said.