By Jeff Hogan | on August 25, 2022

LAPEER — The Lapeer County Health Dept., in coordination with the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), is recommending 38 homes in the City of Lapeer with a lead service line use a water filter certified to reduce lead or an alternative water source, such as bottled water, for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and making infant formula. This recommendation is being made based on initial water test results following a Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) water main break in St, Clair County earlier this month.

Kathy Haskins, director of the county health department, said impacted Lapeer residents will need to continue to use water filters for a while even after the GLWA line is repaired and water is running through it again as the pipe needs to form a protective interior lining before the filters can be removed.

MDHHS is offering free water filters certified to reduce lead to homes in the City of Lapeer on Thursday, Aug. 25. The City of Lapeer has 38 homes with known lead service lines. Bottled water will be made available to these 38 homes upon request. MDHHS staff will be knocking on doors of homes with known lead service lines to provide the filters.

Homeowners that need a filter or have questions can call 800-MI-TOXICS (800-648-6942). Water can continue to be used for bathing, washing hands and washing dishes.

Following the GLWA water main break on Aug. 13, MDHHS’ Division of Environmental Health staff began water sample collection in Lapeer, Almont and Imlay City on Aug. 18, focusing on homes known to be served by a lead service line. Eight out of the 13 homes sampled in Lapeer had results with levels of lead greater than the Action Level Exceedance of 15 parts per billion. Results are not yet back for Almont or Imlay City.

In addition, MDHHS will continue offering water testing to Lapeer homes including those with known lead service lines on Friday, Aug. 26 to test lead levels in water blended following the water main break. This sampling effort is in addition to the sampling being conducted GLWA and the local water system.

All MDHHS Division of Environmental Health staff conducting sampling or passing out filters will have state issued vehicles, visible MDHHS identification and will be wearing MDHHS logoed attire. MDHHS staff may be accompanied by contractors assisting with this work.

For more information, call 800-MI-TOXICS (800-648-6942).

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