slider curve image

EGLE NOTICE: The City of Lapeer Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements during 13-day period

Our water system during the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) water main break did not meet an EGLE drinking water standard. Although this situation does not require that you take any action, as our customer you have a right to know what happened, what this means for you, and what we are doing to correct the situation.

The City of Lapeer purchases water from GLWA that is treated to control corrosion and minimize lead and copper in the pipes from dissolving into the water. To ensure we are maintaining optimal corrosion control, we routinely sample the water in the distribution system for water quality parameters such as pH and orthophosphate. We are required to maintain these parameters above the state-designated minimums. These minimums were not maintained during the emergency, from August 13 through August 26, 2022.

What should I do?

There is no action residents need to take unless your service line is made of lead or galvanized plumbing materials, then you should continue to use a water filter properly certified to reduce lead. If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

What does this mean?

If you have been notified by the city that your water service line is either made of lead, or is galvanized, or it is of unknown material, you should continue to use a filter for water used for drinking, food preparation, making baby formula, and brushing teeth. It is safe to use water for bathing, washing hands, flushing toilets, washing dishes, washing clothes, etc. The City of Lapeer continues to provide FREE filters to residents effected by this. Water filters can be found at our DPW building. For more information on lead or copper service lines please visit: Michigan.gov/egle

What happened? What is being done?

Due to the GLWA transmission main break, The City of Lapeer used back up wells which do not include corrosion control treatment. Therefore, we were not able to meet EGLE corrosion control requirements during that time. While the emergency was resolved quickly, and we were back on GLWA water within 13 days, The City of Lapeer was out of compliance with state-designated corrosion control values during that time. Since this time period, samples in the distribution system have been collected and analyzed and those results show that the water quality is back to normal. During the event all other water quality parameters were in compliance.  For more information, please contact Jeff Graham, jgraham@ci.lapeer.mi.us, 810-664-4711, or 217 Bentley Steet, Lapeer, Michigan 48446.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by the City of Lapeer as a requirement from the compliance arm of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This notice is an automatic mandatory notification of water supply operators.

The City of Lapeer, due to the GLWA transmission main break, has secured grant funding to improve the backup water supply system with the equipment needed to ensure that this issue will NOT happen again. The City of Lapeer has also received funding to retrofit the three back up water supply wells with new well shaft piping and backup generators in the event of an area wide power failure.