Detroit officials are reassuring residents about the safety of the city’s water system.   

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The statement comes after the city sent federally mandated letters to thousands of residents about the materials used for water service lines.  Many Detroiters were concerned that the letters served as some sort of warning.

Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown held a news conference on Tuesday to let residents know there’s no reason to worry. 

“Our water is safe and some of the best water in the world. We’re a leader in the United States in delivering quality water,” he said. “We’re below the actionable level for lead at 12 parts per billion in the most recent testing results.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires municipalities with lead service lines to send out the letters. Brown says the city uses a special coating to prevent old service lines from leeching lead into the water. He says concerned residents can run water for three to five minutes in the morning to flush standing water out of the system. 

Detroit has 10 years to replace all of its lead service lines. Brown says the city has spent $100 million this year in its efforts to replace those lines. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024:

• The city of Detroit broke ground Tuesday on a project that will turn a historic school into affordable housing.
• AAA Michigan says you should pack your patience if you’re planning to take a trip over Thanksgiving, as 2.6 million Michiganders will be traveling over the holiday weekend.
• Gas prices continue to trend lower in metro Detroit, according to AAA Michigan, with the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded now at $3.10 — down five cents from a week ago.

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The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is still on schedule to replace thousands of lead service lines by the end of the year.

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DWSD is using an artificial intelligence learning tool from BlueConduit that predicts the location of lead service lines in the city.

The department was in Pingree Park this week — a neighborhood the tool predicts has at least 70 lead lines.

Director Gary Brown says the software helps them choose which areas they should hit first to make the most impact.

“This is a neighborhood with a lot of kids. It’s a a disadvantaged community,” Brown said. “Economically, it has been ignored for a long time. So this is why we’re here and not in Rosedale Park or Palmer Woods or Sherwood Forest.”

The department is on track to replace 10,000 lines by the end of 2024.

Other headlines for Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024:

• Dearborn’s Public Health Department is working with the University of Michigan’s Environmental Law and Sustainability Clinic to review the city’s environmental policies.
• Detroit Homeowners have until Nov. 1 to apply for property tax assistance to avoid risk of foreclosure. The 2024 HOPE application deadline was moved from early December to November to give the city of Detroit Property Assessment Board time to reach applicants with incomplete submissions so they can ensure they have a fair chance at receiving the benefit. The last Healthy Home Resource Fair where residents can receive on-site HOPE application assistance is 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Perfecting Church on Detroit’s east side.
• Daybreaker and Civic Responsibility Project are hosting a dance party in New Center Park this Saturday to “get out the vote” this election season. Called the “Purple Tour,” the event will feature special guests Wanda Sykes, NFL star Tyrann Mathieu, Anthony Ramos, Dancing with the Stars Julianna Hough and more.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.