En 2018, Michigan adoptó las regulaciones más proactivas del país para plomo en el agua potable. El objetivo de las regulaciones actualizadas es proteger la salud pública reduciendo los niveles de plomo en el agua potable. Las nuevas reglas requieren que las empresas de servicios de agua realicen un inventario de todas las líneas de servicio de agua que contengan plomo desde las tuberías principales hasta los hogares, para notificar a los clientes si tienen una línea de servicio de plomo y para reemplazar completamente todas las líneas de servicio de plomo durante 20 años a partir del 2021.
Líneas de Servicio de Plomo
La Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW [Comisión de Obras Públicas de Holland]) ha completado el inventario de líneas de servicio de agua y no ha identificado ninguna línea de servicio hecha completamente de tubería de plomo. Este inventario se basó en la información proporcionada en los registros de construcción y las inspecciones de plomería que se requieren cuando se instalan o reemplazan las líneas de servicio.
Además de líneas de servicio hechas completamente de tubería de plomo, las nuevas regulaciones estatales ahora también incluyen otros tipos de líneas de servicio como "líneas de servicio de plomo." Las líneas de servicio hechas de tubería galvanizada pero que también tengan un "cuello de cisne de plomo" ahora se clasifican como líneas de servicio de plomo. Un cuello de cisne de plomo es una sección muy corta de tubería de plomo que conecta la tubería principal con la línea de servicio galvanizada.
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Le escribimos para informarle que según los registros de la HBPW, la línea de servicio de agua que sirve a su propiedad está hecha de tubería galvanizada con un cuello de cisne de plomo y, por lo tanto, ahora está clasificada por las nuevas regulaciones como una línea de servicio de plomo.
Muestreos de Plomo
La HBPW ha estado tomando muestras de agua del interior de las casas con líneas de servicio de plomo como la suya desde que el muestreo se requirió por primera vez como parte de las reglas federales de plomo y cobre de 1991. El muestreo es necesario para garantizar que la exposición al plomo se minimice y sea inferior a un "nivel de acción" que actualmente se fija en 15 partes por mil millones (0.015 mg/L) de plomo. Como parte de las nuevas regulaciones, este umbral se reducirá a 12 partes por mil millones (0.012 mg/L) de plomo a partir de 2025.
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Los resultados de los muestreos de la HBPW han estado consistentemente muy por debajo de los niveles de acción actuales y futuros. El muestreo más reciente se llevó a cabo en el otoño de 2019. La HBPW tomó muestras de agua de 34 hogares con tuberías galvanizadas y cuellos de cisne de plomo y descubrió que el 90 por ciento de las muestras estaban por debajo de 1 parte por mil millones (0.001 mg/L) de plomo. El resultado más alto fue de 2.9 partes por mil millones (0.0029 mg/L).
El Reemplazo de Líneas de Servicio
La HBPW ha tenido una práctica desde hace mucho tiempo de remover y reemplazar proactivamente los cuellos de cisne de plomo y la porción asociada de las líneas de servicio que sean propiedad de la HBPW (la primera sección de la línea desde la tubería principal hasta la válvula de cierre en el borde del derecho de paso). Hasta la fecha la HBPW ha removido más de 2,000 de los aproximadamente 4,000 cuellos de cisne de plomo originalmente instalados en el sistema de agua.
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El esfuerzo por eliminar las líneas de servicio que contengan plomo del sistema de agua continuará bajo las nuevas regulaciones y resultará en el reemplazo de todos los servicios de plomo restantes en el sistema, incluido el de usted, dentro del período de 20 años requerido.
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Las nuevas regulaciones requieren que este trabajo ahora también incluya el reemplazo de la porción restante de la línea de servicio de tubería galvanizada propiedad del propietario, lo que resulta en un reemplazo completo desde la tubería principal hasta el medidor de agua del hogar.
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La HBPW completará este trabajo sin costo para usted como parte de este esfuerzo de 20 años. El trabajo se completará como un componente de los proyectos de construcción de tuberías principales. Un calendario de los próximos proyectos de construcción se puede encontrar en el sitio web a continuación y se actualizará a medida que se desarrolle el programa de reemplazo de líneas de servicio.
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Cualquier reparación o reemplazo necesario de las líneas de servicio que caiga fuera del horario y ubicación de este programa más amplio continuará siendo responsabilidad del propietario de la vivienda. En tales casos, el propietario siempre tiene la responsabilidad de reemplazar la parte privada de la línea de servicio, y la HBPW continuará su práctica de reemplazar la parte que pertenezca a la HBPW dentro del derecho de paso.
Si desea verificar el material de su servicio de agua de los registros de Holland BPW, envíe un correo electrónico con su nombre, dirección y solicitud a HPBWWaterSewer@hollandbwp.com o llame al 616-355-1643.
Para más recursos e información sobre el plomo en el agua potable y las líneas de servicio de plomo favor de visitar el sitio web de la HBPW al: https://hollandbpw.com/en/lead-awareness .
Atentamente,
Pieter Beyer
Superintendente de Servicios de Agua y Aguas Residuales
Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes adicionales, por favor contacte al personal de la HBPW por correo electrónico o por teléfono al;
Correo Electrónico: HBPWWaterSewer@hollandbpw.com
Teléfono: 616.355.1500
Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) has met all federal and state drinking water regulation standards since the Water Filtration Plant was built in 1957. HBPW takes its obligation to protect customers and families from lead in their drinking water very seriously. HBPW performs lead sampling on a regular basis and tests many homes throughout the distribution system, focusing specifically on higher-risk homes.
Sources of Lead
HBPW sources its drinking water from Lake Michigan, which is a high quality water source that is free of major contaminants. Water supplied by HBPW does not contain lead when it leaves the treatment plant. Also, HBPW’s water distribution system is made of lead-free pipes constructed from cast iron, ductile iron, and various plastics. This means that HBPW drinking water is not exposed to lead during the distribution process, where water from Lake Michigan is pumped through the water mains that lay beneath the streets in our service area.
Each home that HBPW serves is connected to the water main by a water service line. Some older service lines that connect houses to water mains may contain portions of lead. Another potential source of lead is a home’s internal plumbing. Internal plumbing that could contain lead includes lead pipes, lead solder, and fixtures made with brass that contains some lead. Lead pipes and solder were officially banned in 1986, however, fixtures made with brass that contains some lead were not banned until 2014. All of these potential sources can cause lead to be present in drinking water, especially if water sits for a long time near lead sources before use.
The best step to avoiding lead exposure is removing the sources of lead.
As part of new regulations adopted by Michigan, all lead containing service lines will be replaced by HBPW over the next 20 years. It is recommended that you also evaluate other potential sources of lead inside your home plumbing, remove them when possible, and follow best practices to minimize your exposure to lead from any remaining sources. A licensed plumber can help you to identify and remove lead plumbing.
To learn more about reducing your potential exposure to lead please refer to the following resources:
Updated Regulations
In 2018, Michigan adopted the country’s most proactive regulations on lead in drinking water. Prior to the adoption of the new regulations Michigan’s requirements were consistent with the federal lead regulations. The new more-stringent regulations protect public health by requiring Michigan’s public water systems to take additional actions to reduce lead in drinking water. This includes:
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Lowering the action level of lead in drinking water samples at which utilities must implement or accelerate lead reduction efforts
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Adopting more thorough methods for sampling drinking water for lead
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Requiring utilities to inventory lead water service lines
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Requiring utilities to replace all lead service lines
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Increasing the amount and transparency of communication with customers
A detailed summary of these changes can be found here:
Lead Service Lines
HBPW has completed an inventory of water service lines and did not identify any service lines made completely out of lead pipe. This inventory was based on information provided in construction records and plumbing inspections that are required when service lines are installed or replaced.
In addition to service lines made completely out of lead pipe, the new state regulations also classify other types of service lines as ‘lead service lines’. Service lines that are made of galvanized pipe but also have a ‘lead gooseneck’ and service lines that were previously connected to a lead gooseneck are now classified as lead service lines.
A lead gooseneck is a very short section of lead pipe that connects the water main to the galvanized service line. Lead goosenecks were used because lead pipe is flexible and could easily be bent to match up the end of a stiffer galvanized service line to the water main.
These galvanized service lines are now classified as lead service lines because lead particles from the lead goosenecks could migrate and accumulate in the service lines between the water main and the home, even after removal of the lead gooseneck.
HBPW has had a longstanding practice of proactively removing and replacing lead goosenecks. To date HBPW has removed more than 2,000 of the approximately 4,000 lead goosenecks originally installed in the water system. During these replacements, HBPW also replaced the portion of the galvanized service line from the water main to the shut off valve at the property boundary. The remaining sections of these 2,000 services from the shut off valve into the home are also included in the new replacement requirements.
If you would like to check the material of your water service from Holland BPW’s records please email your name, address, and request to HBPWWaterSewer@hollandbpw.com or call 616-355-1643.
Lead Service Line Replacements
Michigan’s new regulations require that public water systems replace all lead service lines at the water system’s expense over a 20 year period starting in 2021. The regulations also require that this replacement include the portion of the water service line from the outside shut off valve into the home that is typically the homeowner’s responsibility.
HBPW began replacements ahead of the required schedule and replaced more than 100 lead service lines in 2019 as part of a water main replacement project in 19th St. Completed water main replacement projects that will included lead service line replacements include:
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2023
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W. 28th St., W. 29th St., Wildwood Dr. main replacement
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18th St from Cleveland Ave. to College Ave.
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2024
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Morningside Dr. & Kenwood Dr.
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Additional projects to be determined.
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Service line replacements are typically performed as part of larger efforts that allow HBPW to leverage limited resources for the maximum benefit of our customers. Projects will continue in further years beyond the above projects and will be prioritized based on multiple factors including the location of critical and at-risk populations, the prevalence of lead service lines in an area, the age of piping and number of water main breaks in an area, and partnership opportunities with other City projects to allow sharing of resources.
Sampling
HBPW has been sampling water from inside homes with lead service lines since sampling was first required as part of the 1991 federal lead and copper rules. The sampling is required to ensure that exposure to lead is minimized and is lower than an ‘action level’ that is currently set at 15 parts per billion (0.015 mg/L) of lead. As part of the new regulations this threshold will be lowered to 12 parts per billion (0.012 mg/L) starting in 2025.
HBPW’s sampling results have consistently been well below the current and future action levels. The most recent sampling found that 90 percent of the samples collected fell below 1 part per billion of lead (0.001 mg/L). The highest result was 2.9 parts per billion (0.0029 mg/L).
If you would like to test your water for lead, HBPW recommends that you contact your county's health department.
The Ottawa and Allegan County Health Departments have established relationships with local laboratories and can provide low cost testing kits. For more information please contact the Ottawa County Department of Public Health at (616) 396-5266.
Other Sources of Lead
In addition to lead from service lines and internal plumbing it is important for homeowners to understand other potential sources of lead. Lead poisoning may also be caused by lead-containing paint, toys, or other household items. For additional information, visit:
Additional Resources
Below are some resources that provide additional detailed information on lead in drinking water: