IMLAY CITY, MI -- Lead was detected in water at 14 of 22 homes that were tested in Imlay City after a transmission line break, prompting the distribution of free faucet filters and bottled water, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
A spokeswoman for the MDHHS told MLive-The Flint Journal on Friday, Sept. 2, also that water in two of those 14 contaminated homes registered lead readings of more than 15 parts per billion -- above the federal action limit for lead.
Test results have not been received for nine additional homes that were tested in this small city in eastern Lapeer County, the spokeswoman said.
State agencies are investigating the rash of lead detections, which occurred after a community well system was put into service after an Aug. 13 break in the primary transmission line that brings Lake Huron water to the city from the Great Lakes Water Authority.
Imlay City announced last week that it was in the process of draining that community well water from its distribution system after GLWA used a secondary feed to resupply it with water.
The cities of Lapeer and Almont also used emergency municipal water supplies following the GLWA pipeline break and the state is also testing water in those communities for lead and 11 additional water parameters, said Lynn Sutfin, an MDHHS spokeswoman.
Test results from those communities was not immediately available on Friday, and Sutfin said additional testing is planned in coming weeks.
In the meantime, the Lapeer County Health Department is coordinating the distribution of filters and bottled water, and MDHHS is providing the county with filters and additional staff to support filter and water distribution.
“At this time, we do not have enough information to determine the cause of lead detections in Imlay City homes,” Sutfin said in an email to The Journal. “In Lapeer, the majority of detections have come from homes with lead or galvanized service lines ... Most often, lead and galvanized service lines and home plumbing that was manufactured prior to 2014 contribute to lead in drinking water in homes.”
Sutfin said the state decided to test water in Lapeer, Imlay City and Almont because each introduced a new water source to their distribution systems following the GLWA water line break.
Lead and galvanized service lines and the use of a new source of water were two contributing factors to the Flint water crisis.
Researchers have said Flint’s water emergency developed after the city changed its water source to the Flint River without treating the new water to make it less corrosive to lead in pipes and home plumbing.
In response to the lead detections in Imlay City, the Lapeer County Health Department announced the availability of faucet filters and bottled water on the city’s website this week and promoted two bottled water distributions at the Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds.
The announcement advised residents living in homes with children and pregnant women that they “may want to consider using a certified lead-reducing filter or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and making infant formula.”
Residents can contact city offices at 810-724-2135 to request a water filter or bottled water or call a state hotline at 800-648-6942 to request a filter or if they have questions.
Read more at The Flint Journal:
Imlay City offering filters, bottled water after testing shows lead in several homes
Here’s what to expect at construction zones in Flint, Saginaw areas on Labor Day weekend
Mt. Morris Township street named for Margaret A. Perry, ‘champion for the community’
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).
© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.