Elevated levels of lead found in drinking water in some Riverview homes

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – Some homes in Riverview have elevated levels of lead in drinking water, according to city officials.

The city said four of the 30 homes with lead service lines that were tested after the city collected samples were over the Action Level for lead. Action Level is a measure of corrosion control effectiveness.

“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,” said Riverview officials in a press release on Tuesday. “The lead 90th percentile for the City of Riverview is 16 parts per billion (ppb), which exceeds the Action Level of 15 ppb.”

The city provided the following graphic to residents on possible sources of lead in drinking water:

Riverview’s tips to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water

“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.”

• Learn what your service line material is. Contact the city at 734-281-4270 or a licensed plumber to determine if the service line is made from lead, galvanized, 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.
• 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.
  • 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).
  • For filters to work properly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Run your water to flush out lead-containing water.
• 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.
• Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Contact Riverview officials at 734-281-4269 to find out about any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your service line. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line if present.

The city also recommends children be tested for lead levels in their blood.

This does not mean water in all homes contains lead, said city officials

The city takes samples to find out if lead is getting into the water in homes known to have lead lines or plumbing. Riverview officials said if they find lead at a certain level, they inform the household and broader community.