Detroit’s Drinking Water Is Safe: Addressing Lead Service Line Concerns and Ongoing Replacement Efforts

Detroit residents have recently received federally required notifications about the material of their water service lines, sparking concerns about water quality. However, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) assures residents that the city’s drinking water remains safe and exceeds all standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. These notifications, mandated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead & Copper Rule, do not signal a change in water quality but rather aim to keep the public informed about service line materials. For decades, Detroit has met or exceeded federal and state drinking water regulations. Gary Brown, Director of DWSD, emphasized this point, stating, “Our drinking water is safe and DWSD has exceeded all the required tests in the past 20 years and more. Last week, we mailed notification letters to more than 200,000 residents and businesses about the type of service line you may have based on our updated records. The letters do not indicate any change in the water quality in the system nor at your property – in fact, quality continues to improve as we replace lead service lines at a rapid pace.” These annual letters, part of an effort to provide transparency, include information about...