DETROIT – Some Metro Detroiters are raising concerns after receiving a letter from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept. regarding lead service lines.
More than 200,000 letters caused confusion, concerns, and questions, but the number doesn’t reflect the number of people impacted by the notice.
On Tuesday (Nov. 19), resident Clinton Baldwin read the letter.
“My drinking water,” said Baldwin. “That’s alarming.”
The alarm caused water customers to read between the lines, forcing DWSD to explain what was behind the mass notices.
“The annual notification by mail are a new EPA federal requirement for every city in our region and across the United States,” said Gary Brown, director of the department. “This is the first year that that letter has gone out, and we’re required to send it out for the next 10 years.”
DWSD reports the water quality hasn’t changed.
Meanwhile, it’s in the process of replacing lead service lines around the city.
So, why send the letters now?
“The new rule by the Biden-Harris administration has a new requirement to replace all the lead service lines across the country – not just Michigan,” said Elin Betanzo, a water quality expert and founder of Safe Water Engineering.
Essentially, water customers throughout the U.S. can expect to receive a similar notice if they have lead service lines running to their properties.
The ambitious goal is slated to begin in 2027 and has a 10-year window.
DWSD told Local 4 it’s committed to meeting or exceeding the deadline.
However, funding will play a critical role in replacing about 80,000 lead service lines.
Several residents living on Detroit’s west side say they do use the water except for drinking.
“They just need to get it together,” Baldwin said. “That’s all I can say.”
