Excessive lead found in Essexville water, free filters offered - MLive.com

ESSEXVILLE, MI — Excessive lead levels detected in Essexville’s water system prompted city officials and the Bay County Health Department to provide lead-reducing water filters to residents.

The filters are free and are part of a larger response that includes distributing educational materials and helping residents identify ways to lower their exposure to lead. The filters are to be distributed at Essexville City Hall, 1107 Woodside Ave., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22.

Health Department personnel will be present to answer Essexville residents’ questions.

Because children and fetuses are most at risk of harm to their health from lead, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recommending the use of National Sanitation Foundation-certified water filters in any residence within Essexville and served by the Essexville Water Supply that is home to a child or a pregnant woman. Eligibility for the free water filters includes the following:

· Residency within the city of Essexville AND

· A household with a child under the age of 18 or pregnant woman AND

· Currently receives WIC benefits, Medicaid insurance, OR

· Cannot afford a water filter

Residents visiting the water filter distribution need to bring a driver’s license or state identification card for address verification. It’s also recommended residents take a photo of their faucet to assist in identifying which filter they will receive.

For those residents who want to purchase filters or get additional filters, the cost is about $35, with replacement cartridges going for approximately $15. They and can be bought at area home improvement stores. Filters will not be available for purchase at the event.

Earlier in 2019, excessive amounts of lead were detected in the tap water of a handful of Hampton Township residences.

Drinking water provided through the Essexville Water Supply was found to be above the action level of 15 parts per billion in at least 10 percent of the homes tested in Essexville. When lead in drinking water is above the action level, public health officials recommend precautionary actions to protect residents.

Ingesting lead can be a serious issue for children because their bodies and nervous systems are still developing. Too much lead can cause problems with learning, behavior, speech, hearing and growth rates.

In homes with children or pregnant women, MDHHS recommends using only cold filtered water for drinking, rinsing food, cooking, mixing powdered infant formula and brushing teeth. Bottled water could also be used for these activities. When buying a water filter, make sure it is certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing and maintaining the filter.

Other ways to reduce the amount of lead in your drinking water include:

· Regularly flushing your home’s pipes for 30 seconds to two minutes as recommended by the Essexville Water Supply. If your home has a lead service line you may wish to flush the home’s pipes for up to 5 minutes.

· Cleaning your faucet aerators, which can trap small pieces of lead.

· Using only cold water for drinking or cooking; lead dissolves more easily in hot water.

Boiling water does not remove its lead content. Water evaporates during boiling, so the amount of lead in the water may end up higher after boiling.

For more information, call the Bay County Health Department at 989-895-4006 or visit our website at https://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Health/Default.aspx

For information about lead and your health, visit www.michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe.

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Excessive lead found in Essexville water, free filters offered - MLive.com
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