by Jennifer Eberbach, originally posted on December 27, 2016

Five small drinking water systems at three residential communities and two businesses in Livingston County have had violations related to lead testing since 2010, according to Environmental Protection Agency data compiled by USA Today.

In three of those cases, lead exceeded a concentration of 15 parts per billion, which is the EPA’s threshold for how much lead can be present in a water supply before action is required. The others failed to properly monitor and report, but no lead was found.

In one of those cases, issues with arsenic in the water supply has landlords involved in an ongoing Michigan Department of Environmental Quality enforcement case.

A special investigative report by the USA Today Network found that small private water systems don’t have to play by the same safety rules as larger systems when it comes to testing for lead and other toxins. For example, small systems supplying water to a few thousand people or less are not required to treat water to prevent lead unless lead is discovered. Some people across the country are left drinking water containing toxins and some agencies and water system operators have violated federal law by failing to properly monitor and report, leaving an incomplete picture of the nation’s water quality.

Arsenic

Arsenic levels at Green Brook Estates, a rental community of manufactured homes in Oceola Township, has exceeded the government’s limit for the maximum amount of contamination that can be present before action needs to be taken. The MDEQ has an enforcement case open.

Suzann Ruch with the MDEQ said in an email that the agency cannot discuss specific details of the case because it’s ongoing, but said the arsenic value for the drinking water at Green Brook Estates has been close to the maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion for a few years.

In September of this year, water tested right at 10 parts per billion for arsenic, and it has tested over the limit in the past, Ruch wrote.

Between March and June of this year, renters were told to drink bottled water due the annual average exceeding the limit, according to the MDEQ.

Bottled water was dropped off on their doorsteps by the owners and, at one point, rent credits were given, as well. Later, renters were informed the water was safe to drink again.

In 2014, the water tested over the limit for arsenic at 13 parts per billion.