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Following lead exceedances, commission votes to include remaining lead service‑line replacements in next year’s budget
Summary
After staff reported that six of 37 routine lead tests exceeded the new 12 parts‑per‑billion action level, the commission distributed a public notice as required by the state and voted to include funding in next year’s budget to replace the township’s remaining lead service lines.
Groeschel Township on Oct. 14 notified residents that lead sampling results triggered a public‑notice requirement and the commission voted to include funding in next year’s budget to remove remaining lead service lines.
Director of public service John Keim told the commission that out of 37 test samples collected in the fall, six exceeded the state’s recently lowered action level of 12 parts per billion. He said staff immediately contacted affected homeowners, provided point‑of‑use filters and informed the state (EGLE). The exceedances triggered a required public notice and a change in monitoring: the township moves from reduced monitoring to a schedule requiring 60 residents to be sampled twice a year until results fall below the action level.
"Out of the 37 test results we obtained this fall, 6 levels exceeded the new action level of 12 parts per billion," Keim said, and said staff arranged 24‑hour outreach to affected homeowners and distributed filtration devices.
Keim said Great Lakes Water Authority has increased orthophosphate dosing at its treatment plant (a corrosion‑control chemical) after anticipating the lower action level; staff also noted the state is lowering the action level again to 10 ppb in 2027, which affects future compliance.
Commissioners discussed the public health implications and participation challenges: Keim and staff said getting 60 valid samples requires homeowner cooperation and can be costly. The commission asked staff to consider a modest incentive (for example, a bill credit) to improve participation.
After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to include funding in the township’s budget for the next fiscal year to replace all remaining lead service lines identified in township records. The motion passed unanimously.
Key numbers and logistics: - Samples taken this fall: 37; exceedances: 6 (action level 12 ppb). - New monitoring requirement: sample 60 sites twice a year until compliance is restored. - Staff estimate per‑service replacement cost: about $4,000–$8,000 depending on distance and complexity; John Keim said the remaining count after current work is about 23 homes but also referenced other counts while explaining records and ongoing removals. - The township received a prior grant (about $20,000) to pothole and verify service‑line materials earlier in the year.
Ending — Commissioners directed staff to include full replacement of the township’s remaining known lead service lines in the draft budget for next year, to pursue homeowner participation incentives for sampling, and to continue public outreach and coordination with EGLE and water supplier partners.
