Following last Thursday’s announcement of a lead action level exceedance in parts of Three Rivers’ water system, some residents are organizing, while others search for what exactly can be done for their homes.

Three Rivers announced Thursday, August 8 that tests collected between January-June 2024 showed that six homes had lead test results above 15 parts per billion, which is the EPA drinking water Action Level.

“The ‘Action Level’ is a measure of corrosion control effectiveness; it is not a health-based standard,” the city stated. “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.”

More than 20 people attended a Tuesday meeting of the Three Rivers Clean Water Campaign in-person. The 7 p.m. event was also livestreamed on Facebook. According to participants, six things can and need to be done:

• Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry declaring a public health state of emergency, followed by the city applying for state and federal funds.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the City of Three Rivers providing all homes serviced by Three Rivers’ water system free tap or pitcher filters and replacement cartridges immediately.
• EGLE and the city providing lead and copper testing at every location serviced by Three Rivers’ water system.
• The State of Michigan and City of Three Rivers having all service lines manually inspected and identified per the Lead and Copper Rule by the deadline of October 2024
• The state and city replacing all lead and galvanized steel service lines for every location for free from curbs to water meters
• MDHHS and the health department having venous blood testing for lead for all Three Rivers water system customers immediately at no cost.

Meeting participants said in addition to specific state and federal funds, revenue from Michigan’s legal marijuana and opioid settlement could be used to finance the projects.

No city officials attended Tuesday’s meeting. Those attending were reminded about attending city meetings in order to ensure attention and completion of steps for clean water.

“Once we stop, they stop,” resident Gina Foster said.

The City of Three Rivers also said it would soon send what it calls a comprehensive public education document about lead in drinking water. Public Service Director Amy Roth said Wednesday that the document will be mailed by the end of August, and was previously sent in August 2023 and February 2024.

The city leads the response to the lead action level exceedance, Roth said. The city Department of Public Service (DPS) is the designated department for assisting residents with water-related questions. Anyone with health-related questions should reach out to the Branch-Hilldale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency.

Watershed Voice contacted Roth prior to Tuesday’s meeting, wanting to know if there will be any official city or DPS-led education events.

“The City is working with the EPA in the Get the Lead Out (GLO) program,” Roth said. “This program will assist us with our next steps in the planning and lead service line material. It will also assist us with community communication.”

Mandy Christophel, a Three Rivers resident, spoke to Watershed Voice shortly after contacting both DPS and MDHHS. DPS directed Christophel to the MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline. There, she learned the city is following the State of Michigan’s current guidelines regarding free lead filters.

“’We understand that people with kids might not be on Medicaid, but they still can’t afford the filters. We just don’t have any answers right now,’” Christophel said, recalling what she heard. “I’m like, ‘What about seniors?’”

MDHHS announced last week it will offer free certified lead-reducing filters and replacement cartridges to certain households.

The households must meet both of the following requirements: having or being unsure about having lead or galvanized plumbing, a lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence, or old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014; having a Medicaid-enrolled child or children under 19 or a Medicaid-enrolled pregnant person.

“The City was notified prior to Thursday about the current guidelines on providing free lead-reducing filters and replacement cartridges, effective August 1, 2024,” Roth said.

According to Christophel, DPS does not have a record of her residence’s water service lines being tested for lead.

“They want me to test my water, but because I don’t have a child on Medicaid, I wouldn’t get any filters. I guess that a test would make me feel a little bit better,” Christophel said.

The State of Michigan is sending Christophel one more set of filters, expected to arrive in about two weeks. She was told by DPS that she can also pick up a test kit.

“When I did call the state for the filter, they told me this was a one-time thing that I’ll get at no charge. It’s kind of a one and done,” Christophel said.

Three Rivers said Thursday it would continue to educate customers, take samples every six months, assess the water’s corrosivity, and replace service lines.

“If (residents) have been provided notification that they have a lead service line, we encourage their participation in the lead copper testing that will take place once every six months for at least the next 12 months,” Roth said. “If they have an unknown service line material, they can set up an appointment with the City to complete a site visit so we can determine the material when it comes into the home and participate in the water testing.”

While testing for lead, filtering, and possibly replacing lines can be time-consuming and an expense, it’s something Christophel considers important.

“There’s people … it’s hard to afford it,” she said, sighing. “These filters are expensive. A whole home filter is expensive, and I don’t know what to do. People aren’t going to be able to afford them, I can tell you that. They don’t last long.”

Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.