Full Notification

PUBLIC ADVISORY REGARDING:
CITY OF WAYNE SAMPLING OF 
LEAD AND COPPER WATER SERVICES
October 12, 2021
 
The City of Wayne DPW conducts periodic testing of tap water in homes for lead and copper.  We recently collected samples from 30 homes. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy 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 the City’s water supply is 16 parts per billion (ppb), which exceeds the Action Level of 15 ppb.
           
The “Action Level” is not a health-based standard, but it is a level that triggers additional actions including, but not limited to, increased investigative sampling of water quality and educational outreach to customers in accordance with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. The goal for lead in drinking water is 0 ppb; there is no safe level of lead in the blood.

	2019 (Jun-Sept)	2020 (Jun-Sept)	2021 (Jun-Sept)
Lead 90th percentile	14 ppb	12 ppb	16 ppb
Copper 90th percentile	0.1 ppm	0.2 ppm	0.2 ppm
# of Lead sites over 15ppb	0 out of 30	2 out of 30	5 out of 30

 
Because five (5) sites were over the Action Level for lead, the City of Wayne DPW would like to share some ways you can reduce your exposure to lead since lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water and other sources.  Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water.  Of the approximate 5,950 customers in the city, 6.75% (about 400 customers) have lead service lines.

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.

How to reduce your exposure to lead 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.

• Clean your faucet aerator to remove trapped debris.

• Everyone can consider using a filter to reduce lead in drinking water. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommends that any household with a child or pregnant woman use cold water and a certified lead filter to remove lead from their drinking water, especially when preparing baby formula. 
  • Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction.
  • For filters to work properly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • If your household has a child or pregnant woman and are not able to afford the cost of a lead filter, Wayne County Health Department will provide one to you.

• These filters will be available via a drive through pick-up at the City of Wayne DPW at 35200 Forest Ave., on Saturday, October 23, 2021, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  During filter distribution, staff will be on hand to provide direction. Social distancing will be practiced, face masks are required, and all recipients will be asked to remain in their vehicles during pick-up. 

Do not use hot water for drinking, preparing food, or cooking, or preparing baby formula.
Do not boil your water as boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in water.

Is it OK to use lead-containing water to wash my hands? 
Yes! Human skin does not easily absorb lead from water.

Even if you have lead in your drinking water, you can wash your hands, shower or bathe (avoid swallowing the water), wash dishes or clothes, and clean with water that is not filtered or flushed.  

Check whether your home has a lead service line. The City of Wayne DPW will soon send a comprehensive public education document about lead in drinking water.  We will be collecting sixty (60) sites every six months and reviewing the results to determine if corrective actions are necessary to reduce corrosion in household plumbing.                  Please note, if the City of Wayne citizens want to get their blood lead level tested they may go through their health care provider or make an appointment with the Wayne County Health Department’s Clinic at 734-727-7100.      If you are operating a food establishment such as a store, restaurant, bar, or food manufacturing establishment please visit this link https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/FINAL_GENERIC_Recommendations_for_Licensed_Food_Establishments_Lead_in_Water_150_PPB_OR_UNDER_671875_7.pdf for specific information for food firms.      Additional information regarding lead can be found at the City of Wayne’s website: http://www.ci.wayne.mi.us/or at EGLE websites: Michigan.gov/egleleadpublicadvisory or Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe.   FREE WATER TESTING for Lead in your Community.  Call the MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at (844) 934-1315 if you are interested in participating.   Here is another way to have your water sampled.   Use the link below, for a list of certified labs. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/Lead__Copper_Lab_Certs_526434_7.pdf    If you are interested in receiving alerts and advisories such as this one through Nixle, sign up today as a resident user at https://www.nixle.com   For additional questions on Lead and Copper, contact the City of Wayne DPW at (734) 721-8600.  Please leave a message with your name, address, and phone number, and someone will return your call.