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Battle Creek lifts water advisory, says it’s safe for everyone to drink

Battle Creek city officials have lifted a drinking water advisory after reviewing 52 test results looking for elevated levels of manganese.
The advisory was lifted at 3 p.m. (Photo: Trace Christenson/TheEnquirer) All but the four samples tested at levels below the acceptable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health standard for manganese, which is a naturally-occurring element, Fleury said.
The advisory was issued after a test of a hydrant in Springfield showed levels of 0.98 parts billion of manganese.
Officials said they believe the levels were high at the hydrant because it was used infrequently.
The four elevated results were at wells at the city’s Verona Pumping Station.
However, none of those wells are directly feeding the city’s water distribution system, Koehn said.
The city plans to work with the state Department of Environmental Quality on manganese filtering at the plant, and with the state Department of Health and Human Service on further testing, including when hydrants are flushed.
The city’s drinking water advisory was in effect for infants since Thursday after city, county and state officials alerted the public about elevated levels of manganese found in the city’s drinking water.
Earlier Saturday, the city also said those with a liver condition should consider not drinking the tap water.
In response to the advisory, the city gave away 6,785 cases of water to 3,500 families Fleury said Saturday.

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