Notice to Residents – Drinking Water Info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – THREE RIVERS, MI
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF THREE RIVERS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

Public Notice (PDF) | Tips to Reduce Exposure | Additional Resources

The City of Three Rivers has a continued lead action level exceedance for its drinking water system. The City announced their first lead action level exceedance on August 3, 2023. The lead action level exceedance means that locations within our drinking water system have lead test results over 15 parts per billion (ppb), which is the EPA drinking water Action Level. Tests collected between January and June 2024 also had results above 15 ppb.

The City of Three Rivers continued sampling known lead service lines in our second round of collecting a 1st and 5th liter sample from 44 sampling locations between January and June 2024. Six homes had results over 15 parts per billion (ppb).

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) evaluates compliance with the Action Level based on the 90th percentile of lead and copper results collected in each round of sampling. The lead 90th percentile for the City’s water supply is 28 ppb, which exceeds the Action Level of 15 ppb.

The “Action Level” is a measure of corrosion control effectiveness; it is not a health-based standard. The goal for lead in drinking water is 0 ppb; there is no safe level of lead in the blood.

An “Action Level Exceedance” means that more than 10% of the homes tested have results over 15 ppb. The exceedance triggers additional actions including educational outreach to customers, ongoing sampling every six months, assessing the corrosivity of the water, and service line replacement.

Lead can enter drinking water when in contact with pipes, solder, home/building interior plumbing, fittings and fixtures that contain lead. Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water. The more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain.

Therefore, if your water has not been used for several hours, run the water before using it for drinking or cooking. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes. Additional flushing may be required for homes that have been vacant or have a longer service line.

Public Announcement (PDF)

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Joe Bippus, City Manager: 269-273-1075

Amy Roth, Public Services Director: 269-273-1845

Tips to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water

Check whether your home has a lead service line. Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of having high lead levels in drinking water.
Run your water to flush out lead-containing water.
- If you do not have a lead service line, run the water for 30 seconds to two minutes, or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature.
- If you do have a lead service line, run the water for at least five minutes to flush water from your home or building’s plumbing and the lead service line.
MDHHS recommends that Michigan households use a certified lead-reducing drinking water filter if their home has or if they are uncertain if it has one of the following.
- Lead or galvanized plumbing
- A lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence.
- Copper plumbing with lead solder before 1988 (EGLE recommendation).
- Old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.
Use the filter until you are able to remove sources of household lead plumbing, such as:
- Replace pre-2014 faucets
- Get a lead inspection and replace needed plumbing.
When choosing a filter:
- Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction (Class I).
- For filters to work properly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not use hot water for drinking, preparing food, or cooking, or preparing or preparing baby formula.
Do not boil your water as boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in water.
Clean your faucet aerator to remove trapped debris.

MDHHS is offering free certified lead-reducing filters and replacement cartridges to City of Three Rivers households that meet both of the following:

Have or are unsure if they have one of the below:
- Lead or galvanized plumbing.
- A lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence.
- Old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.
Include a Medicaid-enrolled child or children under 19 or Medicaid-enrolled pregnant person.

Foster care providers may be eligible for filter safety net assistance, please call 844-934-1315 for more information.

Filters can be obtained at:
City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services 1015 S. Lincoln Avenue Three Rivers, MI Phone: 269-273-1845 Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.	Three Rivers City Hall 333 W. Michigan Avenue Three Rivers, MI Phone: 269-273-1075 Hours: M,W-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tue 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency 1110 Hill Street Three Rivers, MI Phone: 269-273-2161 Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

City of Three Rivers will soon send a comprehensive public education document about lead in drinking water. We will continue collecting at least forty (40) samples every six months and reviewing the results to determine what corrective actions are necessary to reduce corrosion in household plumbing.

Service line materials for your home: Contact the City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services at 269-273-1845 to learn more about their service line and schedule an inspection.
Testing your water for lead: Contact the City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services at 269-273-1845 to learn more. Or to contact the EGLE laboratory, visit Michigan.gov/EGLElab and select “Drinking Water Laboratory.” Select “Laboratory Certification Program” for a list of certified labs statewide.
Health related questions: Contact the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Services at 269-273-2161.
Operating a food establishment such as a store, restaurant, bar, or food manufacturing establishment: Visit this page Michigan.gov/mdardleadinfo for specific information for food firms.
Regulatory questions about the Safe Drinking Water Act: Contact EGLE at 800-662-9278.
MDHHS filter eligibility questions: MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 844-934-1315.

Pokagon Health Services is also providing support for Pokagon Band Citizens. Please contact Pokagon Health Services at 269-782-4141.

Additional information regarding lead can be found at City of Three Rivers’ website or at EGLE and MDHHS websites: Michigan.gov/EGLELeadPublicAdvisory or Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe.

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Posted August 8, 2024
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Additional Resources:

For the City’s annual water quality reports, click here.

Lead Education

Lead in Drinking Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – THREE RIVERS, MI NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF THREE RIVERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

Public Announcement (PDF)

Tips to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water

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_ _ Additional Resources:

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