Staff presented the township annual Consumer Confidence Report at the Public Services Commission meeting and gave residents an update on lead service-line notification and sampling.
John Keim, head of field operations, told commissioners the township purchases treated water from Great Lakes Water Authority and provides a consumer report to customers each year as required by EPA and enforced by EGLE. "We are mandated by the EPA and, enforced by EGLE to have it in the customer's hands by July 1 every year," he said.
Keim said the township maintains about 65 miles of water main on the island and that the system currently averages about 1.3 million gallons per day during hot weather. The system has two service feeds: a 16-inch line at the north end and a 24-inch line at the Free Bridge, with pressure-reducing valves set to about 62 and 59 psi respectively, staff said.
On lead service lines, Keim said the township identified 28 lead service lines on its inventory and that the state requires annual notice to residents until a line is replaced. "Currently, we have 28 lead service lines that have to be replaced by 2035," he said. Residents who receive a notice and want sampling may call the township office for a sample kit; John and staff will provide and collect the sample and notify customers of results within the state required time frame.
Commissioners and staff clarified the program and testing schedule: the state lowered the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead from 15 parts per billion (previous standard mentioned) to 12 parts per billion this year and to 10 parts per billion in a subsequent year, reflecting a phased regulatory tightening, Keim said. Staff also said Great Lakes Water Authority handles the routine sampling program and that the township conducts additional mandated lead-and-copper sampling and targeted tests using its certified operators.
Contact information: Staff said residents with lead-service-line letters should call the township at (734) 676-4422, extension 228 to request a sample kit.
No formal action was required; staff said the Consumer Confidence Report had been distributed to customers and that sampling and replacement planning will continue under state requirements and the township's capital plan.