Michigan Administrative Code › Department - Environmental Quality › Drinking Water And Municipal Assistance Division › Supplying Water to the Public › Part 4 - PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION › Section R. 325.10410 - Public education regarding lead; consumer notice of lead and copper

Current through Vol. 24-12, July 15, 2024
Rule 410.
(1) Each
				  community and noncommunity water supply that monitors for lead and copper under
				  R 325.10710a shall deliver a
				  consumer notice of lead and copper tap water monitoring results to persons
				  served by the water supply at sites that are tested, as specified in subrule
				  (5) of this rule. A community or noncommunity water supply is also considered
				  "water supply" or "supply" in this rule. A water supply that exceeds the lead
				  action level based on tap water samples that are collected under
				  R 325.10710a shall issue public
				  advisory as required by section 19(2) of the act and shall deliver the public
				  education materials contained in subrule (2) of this rule under the
				  requirements in subrule (3) of this rule. A water supply that exceeds the lead
				  action level shall offer to arrange for sampling the tap water of a customer
				  who requests sampling under subrule (4) of this rule. The water supply is not
				  required to pay for collecting or analyzing the sample and is not required to
				  collect and analyze the sample.
(2)
				  Both of the following apply to the content of written public education
				  materials:
(a) Water supplies shall include
				  the following elements in printed materials, for example, brochures and
				  pamphlets, in the same order as listed below. In addition, language in
				  paragraphs (i) to (ii) and (vi) of this subdivision shall be included in the
				  materials, exactly as written, except for the text in brackets in these
				  paragraphs for which the water supply shall include supply-specific
				  information. Any additional information presented by a water supply shall be
				  consistent with the information below and be in plain language that can be
				  understood by the general public. Printed materials shall be in a standalone
				  publication or, if included as part of a community publication, the following
				  text must appear on the first page of the publication in highly visible print:
				  [INSERT NAME OF WATER SUPPLY] has exceeded the action level for lead in
				  drinking water. See page [INSERT PAGE NUMBER] for important information about
				  your drinking water. Water supplies shall submit all written public education
				  materials to the department prior to delivery. The department may require the
				  supply to obtain approval of the content of written public materials prior to
				  delivery.
(i) IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
				  LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER. [INSERT NAME OF WATER SUPPLY] HAS EXCEEDED THE
				  ACTION LEVEL FOR LEAD. Lead can cause serious health and development problems,
				  especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information
				  closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
(ii) Health effects of lead. Lead can cause
				  serious health and development problems. It can cause damage to the brain and
				  kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry
				  oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to
				  infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects
				  of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems
				  and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy
				  adults. Lead is stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life.
				  During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may
				  affect brain development. Although other sources of lead exposure exist, such
				  as lead paint, and lead contaminated dust, [INSERT NAME OF WATER SUPPLY] is
				  contacting you to reduce your risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. If
				  you have questions about other sources of lead exposure, please contact [INSERT
				  NAME OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT].
(iii) Sources of Lead.
(A) Explain what lead is. Provide the water
				  supplys 90th percentile for lead, the range of
				  individual sample results, and the number of samples included in the
				  90th percentile calculation.
(B) Explain possible sources of lead in
				  drinking water and how lead enters drinking water. Include information on lead
				  service lines, lead solder, home/building plumbing, and fittings and fixtures
				  that may contain lead.
(C) Discuss
				  other important sources of lead exposure in addition to drinking water, for
				  example, paint.
(D) Explain the
				  unpredictability of lead release, the limits of 1-time tests, and the high lead
				  content of some lead particulates.
(iv) Discuss the steps the consumer can take
				  to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water.
(A) Encourage running the water to flush out
				  the lead.
(B) Explain concerns with
				  using hot water from the tap and specifically caution against the use of hot
				  water for preparing baby formula.
(C) Explain that boiling water does not
				  reduce lead levels.
(D) Discuss
				  other options consumers can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water,
				  such as alternative sources or treatment of water, including the availability
				  of filters certified to remove lead and the importance of proper filter
				  maintenance.
(E) Suggest that
				  parents have their child's blood tested for lead.
(v) Explain why there are elevated levels of
				  lead in the supply's drinking water, if known, and what the water supply is
				  doing to reduce the lead levels in the community. The notification cannot state
				  or imply that the identified risk is limited to a single property.
(vi) For more information, call us at [INSERT
				  YOUR NUMBER] [(IF APPLICABLE), or visit our Web site at [INSERT YOUR WEB SITE
				  HERE]]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your
				  home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's website at
				  http://www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider.