Three Rivers residents grapple with ongoing high lead levels in their tap water - WWMT-TV

Three Rivers residents grapple with ongoing high lead levels in their tap water

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THREE RIVERS, Mich. — The City of Three Rivers discovered high levels of lead in their drinking water in August 2023. As of Friday, it is still an ongoing concern.

Levels of lead exceed 15 parts per billion in some residential areas, which is above the Environmental Protection Agency's safe drinking water standard.

Residents told News Channel 3 this is not only a problem for the health of children and adults, but it forces them to consider alternatives to their tap water. One of those alternatives is buying bottled water, which can cause a hit to their wallets.

"I go out and buy water, because I have to drink water," said Three Rivers resident Bruce Miller. "I go out and drink coffee and I drink a lot of water because it's good for you; I can't afford to go out and buy those big cases of water every time I need water."

Miller does not drink the tap water from his kitchen sink. He said he thinks the city's lack of a long-term solution is concerning.

"They flush them out but it's not flushing them out," Miller said. "What's doing it is the pipes are old. They've been in this town since it's been in this town. They need to change the pipes, put new pipes down."

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is listening to residents' concerns about their exposure to lead.

"We're just trying to help folks identify if they do have an elevated blood lead level and talk to them about what that could mean for them and helping to connect them to resources as well," said the agency's Health Education & Promotions Supervisor, Kris Dewey.

The Three Rivers Health Department is working with the city, giving out water filters to eligible residents to ensure they have safe drinking water.

"We're here to work with those families;" Dewey said. "We are in collaboration with and in contact with the city of Three Rivers, EGLE, and MDHHS, to support the residents in the community, and we will continue to be in that role until such time as the situation is remediated."

The City of Three Rivers told News Channel 3 they are finalizing a water service line material inventory. When they finish that inventory, they will make a plan for a budget and replacements.

They have short-term and long-term solutions to keep the drinking water safe, including the free water filters in the short-term and water main and service line replacements on major roadway construction projects in the long-term.