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 City of Eastpointe recently collected samples from 30 homes with known lead service lines. The lead 90th percentile for the City’s water supply is 18 parts per billion (ppb), which exceeds the Action Level of 15 ppb. Results showed that out of the 30 samples taken, 5 of the homes in Eastpointe exceeded the 15 ppb Action Level. This does not mean that every customer has elevated lead levels. An Action Level exceedance means that more than 10% of the samples tested have elevated lead levels.

The “Action Level” is not a health-based standard, but is a level that triggers additional actions including, but not limited to, increased investigative sampling of water quality and educational outreach to customers. The goal for lead in drinking water is 0 ppb; there is no safe level of lead in the blood. This is not a violation of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. While the results of the September 2022 samplings are site-specific, not every home was tested, and lead levels can vary between homes. Therefore, every customer should be aware of possible sources of lead, how it gets into drinking water, and things you can do to reduce exposure.

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.

Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) published in June 2018, requires communities to replace an average of 5% of their total lead service lines each year, meaning 100% replacement within 20 years. The City of Eastpointe takes issues of water quality very seriously. In compliance with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, the City has conducted testing of tap water in homes with lead service lines and has not exceeded the Action Level since 1997. We have been committed to replacing on average 10-18% of our original 1,313 lead lines per year. In the 2021-22 fiscal year, the City replaced 182 lead lines and in the 2022-23 fiscal year is scheduled to replace an additional 179 lines. 

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. 

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Lead Safe Open House and Water Filter Distribution We strongly encourage residents to attend the Lead Safe Open House and Water Filter Distribution Event to meet one-on-one with representatives from the Macomb Health Department, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the City of Eastpointe to discuss lead-related health concerns and water service lines on individual properties.   Wednesday, October 26, 2022 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Eastpointe City Hall 23200 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe, MI 48021

Water Filter Pick-Up Opportunities  Residents are able to pick-up water filters after October 19, 2022 at Eastpointe City Hall and Public Works Offices.  City Hall Hours: Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. DPW Hours: Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To schedule a special pick-up time/date, please contact (586) 204-3032

Macomb County Health Department Lead Resources	Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Lead Resources
United States Environmental Protection Agency Lead Resources	CDC Lead Resources
State of Michigan Lead Safe Resources EGLE Public Advisory