Lead and Drinking Water Fact Sheet

Board of Water and Light Water Quality

The Board of Water & Light draws all of its water from wells which pump almost entirely from a layer of water-bearing sandstone 100 to 500 feet below the surface called the Saginaw Aquifer. The Saginaw Formation is shielded in most places from direct contact with the surface by layers of clay and shale, so contaminants do not easily get into the water at that level.

All of the well water pumped from the ground goes to one of the BWL’s two water conditioning plants, where three-fourths of the hardness is removed. The water is tested for contaminants, filtered, and distributed through underground mains under pressure to customers. The maintenance of that pressure ensures that when leaks occur, the leakage is of conditioned water out of the main, not of dirty water into the main.

Each day, the BWL tests for a variety of constituents, in the well water supply, in the conditioned water through the plants, and in the distribution system which brings the water to your home or business. Tests for bacteria, softening parameters, inorganic and organic compounds are performed routinely in the BWL laboratory to maintain the quality of your water.  BWL has an excellent record and regularly meets and surpasses all state and federal requirements.

Board of Water and Light water quality is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Lead Pipe Issue

The Board of Water and Light has more than 56,000 water services, some 12,000 of which may have some portion of lead pipe. 

Even though the BWL is in compliance with all MDEQ and EPA regulations, increasing concern about human health risk from lead exposure led Board of Water and Light commissioners to make a commitment to customers in 2004 to replace all lead pipe services in its service area by 2014.  The cost to replace lead pipe services over the 10- year period will be more than $35 million.

Lead pipe was routinely used across the country as a desirable material in water service construction through the 1950’s.

Lead is a common, naturally occurring metal that is found in our everyday environment in lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust and sometimes water.  Lead can also be found in certain types of pottery, porcelain and pewter.  There is no detectable lead in BWL drinking water when it leaves the conditioning plant.  But water is naturally corrosive and can pick up microscopic amounts of lead if it sits idle for extended periods of time in pipes, plumbing or fixtures that contain lead. 

Lead levels in drinking water are likely to be highest in homes with lead service lines connecting the water main to the house, in homes with lead indoor plumbing, or in homes that have copper plumbing joined by lead solder and in homes that have brass faucets or other fixtures.  Even brass fixtures certified as “lead-free” can contain up to eight percent lead. 

Reducing the water’s corrosiveness is an important key to keeping lead out of drinking water.  In 2004, the BWL returned to using an additive called Aquadene, which had shown past success in reducing lead levels.  The BWL also hired a nationally recognized consulting firm to review the BWL’s corrosion control program and to recommend ways the BWL can lower its lead corrosion even further.

Lead Regulation

Lead is one of the elements regulated by the EPA.  In 1991, the EPA implemented the Lead and Copper Rule under authority granted by the Safe Drinking Water Act and established an action level for lead in drinking water of 15 ppb (parts per billion). 

The Lead and Copper Rule is unique in two respects.  First, it requires water systems to collect samples from the customer tap, rather than from the distribution system, to determine compliance.

 Second, it does not establish a maximum contaminant level (MCL).   Instead, the regulation for lead requires that no more than 10% of customer samples taken at the tap exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb for lead.  To put that amount into perspective, 15 parts per billion is equal to 15 cents in $10 million dollars.  Prior to 1991, EPA had established an MCL for lead (as opposed to an action level) of 50 ppb. 

An action level exceedance is not a violation of water quality standards, but rather a trigger for further utility action, such as increased public education and corrosion control improvement investigation.

Why is lead a health risk?

Although lead has been used in many consumer products over the years, it is a toxic metal known to be harmful to human health if inhaled or ingested in sufficient amounts.  Most health officials agree the greatest danger from lead exposure comes from old lead-based paint, but drinking water can also be a source.  Lead can build up in the body over years and cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys.

The greatest risk from lead exposure is to children under the age of six and pregnant women.  Amounts of lead that do not hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies.

What The  BWL  is doing to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water

The BWL has taken the following steps:

• Made a commitment to replace all lead water services by the year 2014 at a cost of $35 million.

                 Service line replacements are being scheduled according to the following
                 priorities:
                   -Schools and daycare centers
                   -Homes with children with elevated blood lead levels
                   -Sensitive populations, including pregnant women and children under 6
                   -Coordination with Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project work
                   -Areas with large concentrations of lead water services

• In 2004, the BWL replaced all lead services to day care facilities and assured no lead services feed Lansing schools.

• Hired a consultant to conduct an extensive groundbreaking study to identify the
  appropriate flushing time for BWL customers with lead water services.  The tests
  were conducted under strict conditions to provide a worst case scenario.  As a
  result, the BWL now recommends flushing times of seven minutes for its
  customers with lead services, a very cautious flush time, far beyond EPA guidelines.

• Made a commitment to provide free water filters and replacement cartridges to
  customers with lead service lines, until their lead services are replaced.
  (details to be mailed to BWL lead water service customers)

• Hired a consultant to help optimize the BWL’s water corrosion control program.

• Made a commitment to conduct more rigorous and frequent sampling for lead
  concentrations than is required by EPA regulations.

• Increased communication to all water customers about lead in drinking water.

Here’s what you can do to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water

• Flush your water service if the water has been sitting idle in pipes for six hours or more before drinking or cooking with water.  If you have a standard copper service, run the water until it’s cold or up to two minutes.  If you have a lead service, run the water for seven minutes if you have not used water in the last six hours or more.  You might draw water for plants or other non-consumptive use before flushing the tap.  Once you have flushed the tap, you might fill one or more bottles with water and put them in the refrigerator for later use that day.

• If there has been recent heavy water use in the home, such as showering, toilet flushing or running the dishwasher or clothes washer, flush times at the tap prior to drinking or cooking with water can be reduced.  For a standard copper service running water five to thirty seconds at the tap after recent heavy water use is sufficient.  Customers with lead water services can cut the seven minute flush time down to two, if there has been recent heavy water use elsewhere in the home.

• Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula.  Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead.

• Regularly clean particles from faucet aerators.

• Buy a lead-free faucet.  The legal definition of “lead-free” still allows brass faucets to contain up to 8% lead.  However, faucets marked with “NSF 61/9” and/or “California Proposition 65” meet stricter limits.

• As an alternative to the seven minute flushing time for customers with lead water services, use a water filter.  The BWL is offering free water filters and replacement cartridges to its customers with lead water services, until the services are replaced.

• If you’re concerned about lead, have the water tested.  Arrangements can be made for water testing through the Ingham County Health Department at 887-4312.  A test costs about $20.  Or, you may choose to install a water filter that is NSF-certified for lead removal.  If a water filter is installed, replace filters at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer.

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