Is There Lead in Your Detroit Tap Water?

Recent testing for Detroit’s drinking water shows results remain below action levels. According to the most recent data, the 90th percentile lead level is 13 ppb, which is below the EPA action level of 15 ppb.

Testing also shows no detectable lead at the treatment plant level, meaning lead is not coming from the source water itself. Instead, when present, it is typically introduced through household plumbing materials such as older pipes, solder, or fixtures.

Lead most commonly enters drinking water after it leaves the treatment facility.

In Detroit homes, this can occur through:

Because Detroit’s water originates from the Detroit River and Lake Huron and is properly treated, the primary source of lead exposure is typically related to plumbing infrastructure rather than the water supply itself.

The most effective way to reduce potential lead exposure is through proactive measures at the household level.

Testing your water and understanding your home’s plumbing system can help identify potential risks. Simple steps like flushing pipes before use, using cold water for drinking and cooking, and maintaining plumbing systems can help reduce exposure.

Detroit also continues to invest in long-term infrastructure improvements, including replacing older service lines to further reduce risk across the system.

In addition to its once widespread use, and continued use in some plumbing fittings and solder, lead is virtually undetectable in water. Since you can’t see, taste, or smell it, prolonged exposure can be common. Lead in drinking water is especially harmful for young children and pregnant women, but is not safe for anyone to consume, in any concentration. Since lead is not visible, tasteless, and odorless, many homeowners are unaware of exposure without testing.

For children, the effects of consuming lead-contaminated water are especially high. Once consumed, lead remains in our bodies or ‘bioaccumulates’, as we can’t flush the contaminant from our system. Once there, lead can cause serious behavioral and cognitive problems for children, and over time it can lead to:

Lead also crosses the placenta, so it’s especially important for pregnant women to avoid drinking water contaminated with lead. In addition to harming the mother, it can cause stunted fetal growth and premature birth.

For the average adult, lead exposure from water can cause heart and cardiovascular issues, reduce kidney function, and contribute to reproductive problems.

The degree and severity of these issues depends on how much lead you’ve been exposed to, and how much is stored in your body, though governing health authorities like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) caution that no amount of lead is safe.

Michigan’s revised Lead and Copper Rule introduced a more rigorous testing approach to better understand potential lead exposure in homes.

Under this method:

This updated process provides a more accurate picture of where lead may be present within the system. In Detroit, this testing approach has helped confirm that overall levels remain below regulatory thresholds.

Detroit has made significant progress in reducing lead exposure through its ongoing service line replacement program.

Certain water treatment systems are designed to reduce lead at the point where water is used most.

Common solutions include:

These solutions can help provide more consistent water quality throughout the home, especially in areas where plumbing may contribute to trace metal exposure.

Because lead exposure can vary from one home to another, testing is one of the most important first steps.

A professional water test can help determine:

The Flint Water Crisis began in 2014 when a change in water source and improper treatment caused lead to leach from aging pipes into the drinking water supply.

While the immediate crisis has since been addressed and water quality has improved significantly, the situation remains one of the most well-known examples of how changes in water chemistry and infrastructure can impact drinking water safety.

Today, Flint is often referenced as a case study in the importance of corrosion control, infrastructure maintenance, and ongoing water quality monitoring.

The final tally on the Flint Water Crisis, which included e.coli bacteria, THMs, lead, and a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak, resulted in 6,000 to 12,000 children exposed to lead and a slew of lawsuits, investigations, resignations and criminal indictments.