Trenton

Water quality is a critical priority for our Trenton community and surrounding region. Both the City of Trenton and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are fully committed to meeting federal and state water quality standards, particularly the Lead and Copper Rule. With the Great Lakes as our water source and advanced treatment technologies, GLWA consistently delivers safe water to our residents.

The City of Trenton maintains the network of water mains that transport this water to your home's service line. This year's Water Quality Report highlights the outstanding performance of both GLWA and Trenton water professionals in providing some of the nation's highest quality municipal water. We remain dedicated to protecting public health and maintaining transparent communication about our water supply.

The 2017 Annual Report on Water Quality details our water sources, presents testing results, and provides essential information about your water and health. The City of Trenton and GLWA will immediately notify residents if there's ever any concern regarding water safety. We're proud to demonstrate how we've exceeded water quality standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

Like most neighboring communities, Trenton purchases water from the Great Lakes Water Authority, which serves approximately 4.2 million people across 126 southeastern Michigan communities. The system draws water from two Detroit River intakes – one near Lake St. Clair and one near Lake Erie – plus a Lake Huron intake in St. Clair County. Four treatment plants process this water for Detroit and most Downriver communities.

Regarding lead concerns: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. While Trenton provides high-quality water, we cannot control materials used in home plumbing. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize potential lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For those concerned about lead, water testing is available. More information on lead in water is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at HTTP//: www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Safe water is our shared responsibility. GLWA-delivered water contains no lead, but it can leach from home fixtures or service lines. Our corrosion control program adds orthophosphates during treatment to create a protective coating inside pipes throughout the system. Trenton conducts required lead and copper testing in our community, while residents should maintain their home plumbing systems.

Regarding Cryptosporidium: This microbial parasite found in surface water can cause abdominal illness. While filtration removes Cryptosporidium, standard methods cannot guarantee 100% removal. It was detected once during annual monitoring at Detroit River intake plants. Current testing cannot determine if organisms are viable. Those with compromised immune systems, infants, and elderly individuals face higher risk and should consult their doctors about appropriate precautions.

Our water treatment process operates continuously and includes: chlorine disinfection to kill harmful microorganisms; alum addition to remove particles that cause cloudiness; fluoride addition for dental health; sand filtration to remove additional particles and microorganisms; and final treatment with phosphoric acid and chlorine to control lead from old plumbing and maintain disinfection throughout the distribution system.

Water quality is rigorously monitored before, during, and after treatment, with hundreds of samples tested weekly by certified laboratories and qualified staff. GLWA not only meets safety standards but ranks among the top in the country for quality and value.

All water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (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 naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment, septic systems, agriculture, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, whether naturally-occurring or from urban runoff, wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or 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, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, either naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure safe tap water, EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems, while FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water.

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