EGLE: Lead, copper “Not Detected” in most recent Manchester water supply samples

Manchester’s water supply at its source (the water tower on Ann Arbor Hill) was recently found to have no detectible levels of lead or copper.

The Village of Manchester got some good news from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Drinking water laboratory last week.

The most recent analysis of samples taken from the plant tap at the water tower on Ann Arbor Hill, which is the source of Manchester’s drinking water, showed no detectible lead or copper, performed by methods approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to the report provided by EGLE on Feb.23.

At the March 7 meeting of Village Council, manager Jeff Wallace presented the EGLE report with the caveat that the village will continue to budget for the 7% line replacements to homes that have lead access lines, on a yearly basis, as called for by state regulations. The new village budget year starts July 1.

“These will be the lines that are most cost-effective to replace, and to continue to be the most effective for all users that are paying water utility bills which is paying for this,” Wallace added. “We are also waiting for the final state budget, which goes into effect in October, to find out if they will enhance programs that we can use to help to accomplish the replacements in a shorter time frame than required by the state.

This year, an additional four lines will be replaced in conjunction with the State Category “B” Street grant for which the village applied and received this year. Those four lines will be replaced this spring, with the road work being scheduled for early this summer.

Testing of individual homes known to have lead service lines will continue, with the next round of 20 homes to be completed in June, Wallace concluded.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.