SCS Lead Safe

The Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act has changed to better protect our citizens' health. New water sampling rules have been added to detect possible lead in your drinking water better. These changes require communities, including St. Clair Shores, with lead service lines and older housing stock, to do more sampling. This new sampling method is expected to result in higher lead results, not because the water source or quality for residents has changed, rather, because the Act has more stringent sampling procedures and analysis.

The City of St. Clair Shores has 25,303 water customers. The City estimates that there are approximately 720 homes with leads service lines. In St. Clair Shores lead service lines are most commonly found in homes built between 1920 and 1950. Our SCS Lead Safe page will provide you with information about the results from the recent sampling of 62 homes with lead service water lines, how you can determine if you have a lead service line going into your home and information about lead in drinking water and what you can do to minimize its effects as well as a list of valuable informational resources (scroll down for a list of Frequently Asked Questions).

Lead in Drink Water: 

Top 5 Questions & Answers

1. Is my water safe to drink?

YES! The water source, the water treatment, and our water quality are safe! The City of St Clair Shores does not violate the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act as it meets all safety standards as required by the State of Michigan. Homes that tested above the action level (15ppb) all have lead service lines. If you don’t have a lead service line, you’re not at risk. Our records indicate only 720 homes out of 25,303 water customers in St. Clair Shores have lead service lines.

2. How to find out if I have a lead service line?

Take the Water Service Line survey here. After verifying a lead service line, please send a Water Service Replacement Agreement to the DPW.

#3. What is the City doing about this issue?
The City of St. Clair Shores is currently working to replace the 720 lead service lines (LSL) in our City. Through the end of 2020, the City has replaced approximately 100 LSL. If you have a LSL, please fill out the Water Service Replacement Agreement and send to the DPW. Your LSL will then be scheduled to be replaced as soon as possible. The Mayor and City Council are committed to resolving this issue quickly so residents will not have to worry about the quality of their drinking water.

#4. Does the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) treat our water for lead?
 YES. The GLWA treats our water so lead does not leak into the water.
More information is available on the annual Water Quality Report.

#5. Why did the City issue a Public Advisory about lead in our water now?
The City of St. Clair Shores began testing tap water in homes with lead service lines in accordance with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act in 1992. After the Flint lead water crisis, the sampling procedure was changed. These changes now require communities with lead service lines to increase the number of sampling locations and draw multiple samples from each location.

This new sampling method resulted in higher lead results, not because the water source or quality for residents has changed, but because the Act has more stringent sampling procedures. As a result of the new sampling procedures, eight out of the 62 tested homes with lead service lines measured lead exceeding the Action Level of 15 ppb. When a water sampling exceeds the amount by the state, the City must inform all residents of the results and provide public education.