YCUA's mission is a dedication to providing top quality, cost effective, and environmentally safe water and wastewater services to our customers. As part of that commitment, this webpage is intended as a resource for information on water quality issues emerging in our community today. Please bookmark and refer back to this page as more information becomes available.
LEAD and COPPER
Exposure to lead can cause behavior problems and learning disabilities in young children and can also affect the health of adults.The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits lead levels in your drinking water. YCUA's water quality continues to meet the requirements of Michigan's revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), the most stringent in the nation. In 2019, YCUA's Water System Advisory Council (WSAC) was formed to advise and assist with the creation of materials and outreach plans to educate our community about lead in drinking water and inform owners whose service lines may need replacement.
Michigan's 2018 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)
Michigan’s 2018 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requires communities to locate and prioritize pipes for removal. It also decreases the action limit for lead in drinking water. Per the new LCR, YCUA must verify its inventory results by 2025. Once the service line material is verified, a letter will be mailed to resident occupants informing them of the results and if their service line meets the criteria for replacement.
The LCR requires water systems to begin replacements in 2021 and continue to replace lines at a rate of 5% per year. If your line does meet criteria for replacement, YCUA will notify you during the year you are scheduled for replacement.
Sources of Lead and Minimizing Risks
High levels of lead and copper are not present in the groundwater or in the Detroit River water that serve as our drinking water sources. The primary sources of lead in tap water are pipes and fixtures in individual homes where water can leach lead from the plumbing fixtures.
Image Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Basic Information About Lead In Drinking Water
To minimize the risks of exposure to lead:
- Water temperature can affect the extent to which lead enters the water. Use water from the cold tap for making baby formula, drinking, and cooking.
- Let the water run for a minimum of 30 seconds to two minutes if it hasn’t been turned on for six or more hours.
Image Source: Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)
Sampling
YCUA is pleased to report that its results for the new Lead and Copper Rule Compliance are under the state action level. All communities with lead service lines must sample tap water in homes as required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the summer of 2019, the Authority sampled 30 homes with lead service lines and reports that its 90th percentile was under the action level.Lead Service Lines & Inventory
YCUA has made it a standard practice to replace all non-copper water service piping as part of all water main projects. The Authority is in the process of completing a materials inventory of the public and privately owned portions of water service lines. YCUA has historical data on the publicly owned portion and is now in the process of gathering data on the privately owned portion of the service lines. Data on service line material will be collected as part of our "Get the Lead Out" program, focused on finding and replacing any remaining lead service lines beginning in 2021.
Monitoring for Lead and Copper
YCUA monitors for lead and copper and publishes those results in our Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Quality Report.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. For a list of licensed labs in Michigan that can analyze your water for lead and copper, see Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's listing of Laboratories Certified for Lead and Copper Testing.
Additional Lead and Copper Resources and Contacts
- For more information, call YCUA's Service Center at 734-484-4600 ext. 307 or send an e-mail to director@ycua.org.
- Sources of Lead and Copper and Health Effects - Responses to Frequently Asked Questions about Lead and Copper in Water
- Service Lines and Plumbing Fixtures - Responses to Frequently Asked Questions about Lead and Copper in Water
- GLWA Statement on Lead and Copper Sampling Results (January 30, 2020)
- Statewide Drinking Water Advisory Council Activities Update (August 2019)
- Mi Lead Safe
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - Reducing Potential Lead Exposure from Drinking Water
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - Particulate Lead in Drinking Water
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - Galvanized Service Lines
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - What is a Partial Lead Service Line Replacement?
- Michigan’s 2018 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Basic Information About Lead In Drinking Water
- What You Need to Know About Michigan's 2018 Lead and Copper Rule
- YCUA's Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Quality Report
YCUA Water System Advisory Council (WSAC)
The focus of the YCUA Water System Advisory Council (WSAC) includes:
- Advising and assisting with the creation of materials and plans to educate our community about lead in drinking water.
- Review public awareness campaign materials provided by the statewide drinking water advisory council.
- Provide guidance on outreach to property owners whose service lines need replacement.
- The WSAC will meet at least twice per year even though state guidelines only require annually.
