City of Warren

Water quality is essential to our Warren community and the surrounding region. The City of Warren and Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are committed to meeting state and federal standards including the Lead and Copper Rule. With the Great Lakes as our source and advanced treatment technologies, GLWA consistently delivers safe water to our community.

The City of Warren maintains the network of water mains that transport this water to your home. This year's Water Quality Report highlights how GLWA and Warren water professionals provide some of the nation's highest quality municipal water.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. This doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Possible contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals (naturally-occurring or from stormwater runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, farming)
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Our water is treated according to these standards. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equal public health protection.

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly, and infants) may be particularly at risk. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Your water comes from the Detroit River, connected to Lake St. Clair, Clinton River, Rouge River, Ecorse River, and parts of Canadian watersheds. A 2004 source water assessment by Michigan environmental agencies rated Detroit River intakes as highly susceptible to contamination. However, all Detroit water treatment plants have historically provided effective treatment of this source water.

GLWA has implemented source-water protection activities including chemical containment, spill response, and mercury reduction. In 2015, they received a grant to develop a protection program for Detroit River intakes covering government roles, source water protection areas, potential contamination sources, management strategies, contingency plans, new source siting, and public education.

Information about lead: GLWA water supplied to Warren contains no lead. Lead can leach into water through home plumbing and service lines. Orthophosphates are added during treatment to create a protective coating in pipes throughout the system. Warren regularly tests for lead and copper compliance.

Residents can protect water quality at home by:

• Using cold water for drinking and cooking
• Flushing taps after 6+ hours of non-use (run cold water 30 seconds to 2 minutes until noticeably cooler)
• Cleaning faucet aerators monthly and replacing damaged ones
• Regularly disinfecting sinks and faucets
• Replacing refrigerator filters per manufacturer recommendations
• Changing other water filters as recommended

Flushing is a simple, inexpensive way to protect your family. When water sits in lead pipes or pipes with lead solder, lead may dissolve into the water, making first-draw water in mornings or evenings potentially higher in lead content.

.. ...