What Happened? What is Being Done?
Marquette does not have known lead in its water mains or service lines. However, lead can enter drinking water when it is in contact with pipes, solder, home/building interior plumbing, fittings and fixtures that contain lead. Marquette’s water does have optimized corrosion control treatment to reduce lead leaching.
This summer, we collected samples from 32 homes; 6 homes were above the Action Level for lead. The sampling sites are Tier III sites which means the samples are taken in homes built with copper plumbing installed with lead solder before 1988.
We will be collecting 60 every six months and reviewing the results to determine if corrective actions are necessary to reduce corrosion in household plumbing.
If you are a Marquette water customer and would like your service line inspected, contact the City of Marquette Utility Inspector at (906) 225-8987 or atankka@marquettemi.gov to find out how to get your water tested for lead. You may also contact the City of Marquette Water Filtration Plant at (906) 228-0488. Additional information available at: Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe or Michigan.gov/EGLEleadpublicadvisory. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Web site at Epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD, or contact your healthcare provider. You can also call the DHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 844-934-1315.
Health Effects of Lead
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health and development effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Although other sources of lead exposure exist, such as lead paint, and lead contaminated dust, Marquette is contacting you to reduce your risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. If you have questions about other sources of lead exposure, please contact Marquette County Health Department at (906)475-4195.
Sources of Lead
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure due to the widespread use of lead in plumbing materials. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person’s potential exposure to lead. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
The action level is 12 parts per billion (ppb) for lead and 1.3 parts per million (ppm) for copper. The action level is a measure of corrosion control effectiveness. It is not a health-based standard. To meet the requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule, 90 percent of the samples collected must be below the action level. The following table summarizes the lead and copper data collected during the most recent monitoring period:
Lead can enter drinking water when pipes, solder, home/building interior plumbing, fittings and fixtures that contain lead corrode. Corrosion is the dissolving, or wearing away, of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing. Several factors affect the amount of lead that enters the water, including the water quality characteristics (acidity and alkalinity), the amount of lead in the pipes, plumbing and/or fixtures, and the frequency of water use in the home.
Some plumbing products such as service lines, pipes and fixtures may contain lead. The infographic below demonstrates where sources of lead in drinking water could be in your home. Older homes may have more lead unless the service line and/or plumbing has been replaced. Homes built…
Before the 1960s are more likely to have lead service lines, lead pipes, fixtures, and/or solder that contain lead.
- Before 1988 are likely to have fixtures and/or solder that contains lead.
- Between 1996 and 2014 are likely to have fixtures that contain up to eight percent lead but were labelled “lead-free.”
- In 2014 or later still have potential lead exposure. “Lead free” was redefined to reduce lead content to a maximum of 0.25 percent lead in fixtures and fittings. Fixtures that are certified to meet NSF Standard 61 meet this more restrictive definition of “lead free.”
Leaded solder and leaded fittings and fixtures are still available in stores to use for non-drinking water applications. Be careful to select the appropriate products for repairing or replacing drinking water plumbing in your home.
Galvanized plumbing can be a potential source of lead. Galvanized plumbing can absorb lead from upstream sources like a lead service line. Even after the lead service line has been removed, galvanized plumbing can continue to release lead into drinking water over time. Homes that are served by a lead service line should consider replacing galvanized plumbing inside the home.
Drinking water is only one source of lead exposure. Other common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint, and lead-contaminated dust or soil. Because lead can be carried on hands, clothing, and/or shoes, sources of exposure to lead can include the workplace and certain hobbies. Wash your children’s hands and toys often as they can come in contact with dirt and dust containing lead. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, food, and cosmetics. If you have questions about other sources of lead exposure, please contact Wayne County Department of Health, Human & Veteran Services, Public Health Community Hotline 866-610-3885.
Particulate Lead
Lead results can vary between tests. A single test result is not a reliable indicator of drinking water safety. Two different types of lead can be present in drinking water, soluble lead and particulate lead. Soluble lead is lead that dissolves because of a chemical reaction between water and plumbing that contains lead. Particulate lead is dislodged scale and sediment released into the water from the sides of the plumbing and can vary greatly between samples. Disturbances, such as replacing a water meter, construction and excavation activities, or home plumbing repairs can cause particulates to shake free from inside pipes and plumbing. Particulate lead is a concern because the lead content can be very high. Lead particulate could be present in a single glass of water but not present in water sampled just before or after. During construction, monthly aerator cleaning and using a filter certified to reduce lead are recommended to reduce particulate lead exposure.
Check whether your home has a lead service line.
Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water. Marquette does not have known lead in its water mains or service lines.
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water
1. Run your water to flush out lead. 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.
- 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 both the interior building plumbing and the lead service line.
- Additional flushing may be required for homes that have been vacant or have a longer service line. Your water utility can help you determine if longer flushing times are needed.
2. Everyone can consider using a filter to reduce lead in drinking water. MDHHS recommends that residents use a certified lead-reducing drinking water filter if their home has or if they are uncertain if it has one of the following:
- Lead or galvanized plumbing.
- A lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence.
- Copper plumbing with lead solder before 1988 (EGLE recommendation).
- Old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.
Use the filter until you are able to remove sources of household lead plumbing, such as:
- Replace pre-2014 faucets.
- Get a lead inspection and replace needed plumbing.
- Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction (Class I). Some filter options include a pour-through pitcher or faucet-mount systems. If the label does not specifically mention lead reduction, check the Performance Data Sheet included with the device. Be sure to maintain and replace the filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
3. Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
4. Use cold water for preparing baby formula. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula. MDHHS recommends using bottled water or a filter certified to reduce lead to prepare baby formula.
5. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Filter cold water, then boil the filtered water as necessary.
6. Consider purchasing bottled water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water. The bottled water standard for lead is 5 ppb.
7. Get your child tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure. Contact the Marquette County Health Department at (906) 475-4195.
8. Identify older plumbing fixtures that likely contain lead. Older faucets, fittings, and valves sold before 2014 may contain higher levels of lead, even if marked “lead-free.” Faucets, fittings, and valves sold after January 2014 are required to meet a more restrictive “lead-free” definition but may still contain up to 0.25 percent lead. When purchasing new plumbing materials, it is important to look for materials that are certified to meet NSF standard 61. The EPA prepared a brochure that explains the various markings that can indicate that materials meet the new “lead free” definition: https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100LVYK.txt.
9. Clean your aerator. The aerator on the end of your faucet is a screen that will catch debris. This debris could include particulate lead. The aerator should be removed at least every six months to rinse out any debris.
10. Test your water for lead. Contact the City of Marquette Utility Inspector (atankka@marquettemi.gov) at (906) 225-8987 or the City of Marquette Water Filtration Plant at (906) 228-0488 to find out how you can get your water tested for lead.
For those single family residential customers who use large volumes of water outdoors, where it does not enter the sanitary sewer system, the utility makes lawn meters available. Customers may purchase these meters for installation in the line that feeds their outside hose tap or irrigation system.
Lawn Meter Information and Permit Form
Call Public Works at 906-228-0444 to schedule an appointment to have the water meter delivered to your home. The customer is responsible for the permit fee and plumbing charges. Utillity personnel will wire in the meter and perform an inspection. Multifamily and commercial properties may apply for lawn meters, but a variance from City Ordinance 48-118 is required. Lawn meters are the Utility's way of promoting a greener community.
To schedule a service call, contact Utility Billing at 228-0420. The office is staffed Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Technicians are available for appointments from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm.
To protect the water system and its customers from chemicals and other contaminants that might inadvertently be introduced into the water through customer plumbing are the responsibility of the Utility Inspector. Certain plumbing devices and configurations are required to keep the contaminants in boilers, irrigation systems, aspirators, chemical and recycle tanks and other water-fed devices from finding their way into the water system.
The City is charged by State law with verifying that appropriate protection is in place and maintained on the customer's premises. If you have any questions concerning backflow protection contact the Utility Inspector at 228-0444. If installing an underground irrigation system, a permit must be obtained and you must contact the Utility Inspector to schedule an on-site inspection of the backflow protection that must be a part of such systems. Water piping must be protected from freezing. Pipes in garages or crawl spaces should be protected with heat tapes or insulation.
Storage tanks are also inspected regularly for security reasons. At approximately five-year intervals they are drained for internal inspection, cleaning, and repair. Tanks are "off limits" to the public. Please respect the security fences and report those who do not.
Water samples are collected daily from the farthest reaches of the distribution network and delivered to the Filtration Plant for analysis to assure that safe, pure water is available to all customers of the system.
Utility maintenance personnel use hydrants to flush watermains in the City. Flushing helps to clear corrosion and other deposits from the pipes, and keep them delivering at maximum capacity. In unlooped sections of the system it draws fresh water into areas where low usage may allow it to become stagnant. Finally, flushing is one of the best tools for verifying that the pipe network is functioning properly and that an unseen problem has not compromised its performance.
Personnel flush a different section of the system each year between June and September. The large volumes of water that are moved at high velocity can lead to some discoloration of the water that reaches nearby homes. It will usually clear after several minutes of running the tap wide open. If it does not clear, please call 906.228.0444.
A permit and meter are required for all private use of fire hydrants in the city. The permits are available through the Public Works Department. Please call 906.228.0444.
Many buildings in the Marquette area are plumbed with galvanized iron pipe. After 15 years of service, the carrying capacity of such pipe may be reduced by up to 50% due to internal corrosion. Over longer periods, the capacity is further reduced and the supply may eventually prove inadequate for some appliances or families. Under such circumstances the service line from the main into the building, and sometimes the building's internal plumbing, may require replacement.
If the volume of water available from your service seems inadequate, you may schedule an evaluation of its capacity by calling the City Water Distribution Department at 228-0444. Each year, several dozen of the worst service lines are replaced. The City will replace the portion of the line under the street right-of-way but requires property owners to install a new line from the property line to the meter. Type K copper tubing is used for the city's portion of the line with 1" diameter the minimum size installed.
