Important Health Information About Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.
The City of Grosse Pointe Woods is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you have a service line that is lead, galvanized previously connected to lead, or unknown but likely to be lead, it is recommended that you run your water for at least 5 minutes to flush water from both your home plumbing and the lead service line.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Safe drinking water is a shared responsibility. The water that GLWA delivers to our community does not contain lead. Lead can leach into drinking water through home plumbing fixtures, and in some cases, customer service lines. Corrosion control reduces the risk of lead and copper from leaching into your water. Orthophosphates are added during the treatment process as a corrosion control method to create a protective coating in service pipes throughout the system, including in your home or business.
The City of Grosse Pointe Woods performs required lead and copper sampling and testing in our community.
Water customers also have a responsibility to maintain the plumbing in their homes and businesses, and can take steps to limit their exposure to lead.
Lead Education Resources
- Know the facts about lead
- Well fed means less lead
- Adult exposure to lead
- Pregnant and Breastfeeding Persons
Lead in Drinking Water Resources
