Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Livonia?
Yes, Livonia's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Livonia has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Livonia's water utility, Livonia, had 3 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Livonia was resolved on Nov. 30, 2019. This assessment is based on the Livonia water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Livonia Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Livonia tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Livonia's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Livonia Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Livonia for Livonia in Michigan. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Oct. 1, 2019 to Oct. 31, 2019, Livonia had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine (RTCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Revised Total Coliform Rule.
From Sept. 1, 2019 to Nov. 30, 2019, Livonia had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
For the compliance period beginning Dec. 30, 2017, Livonia had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Lead Consumer Notice which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Lead and Copper Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Lead and Copper Rule.
Is there Lead in Livonia Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Livonia water system, Livonia, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00692 mg/L of lead in Livonia water. This is 46.1% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Livonia contained more lead.
While Livonia water testing may have found 0.00692 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Livonia Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Detroit Arsenal - near Livonia with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Livonia has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Livonia SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/01/2019 - 10/31/2019 | Resolved | No | Monitoring Violation (MON) | Monitoring, Routine (RTCR) (3A) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (111) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (8000) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 09/01/2019 - 11/30/2019 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 09/01/2019 - 11/30/2019 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 12/30/2017 - | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Lead Consumer Notice (66) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) | Lead and Copper Rule (5000) | Chemicals (300) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Livonia Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | 12973 Farmington Road LIVONIA, MI, 48150 |
Existing customers can login to their Livonia account to pay their Livonia water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Livonia bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Livonia water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Livonia water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Livonia means you will often need to put the water in your name with Livonia. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Livonia means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Livonia. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Livonia, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Livonia Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Livonia's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
City of Livonia
Dear Water Customer,
I am happy to report that the City of Livonia Calendar Year 2020 Water Quality Report shows, once again, that Livonia’s drinking water has met or exceeded all government standards set for water quality and safety.
We are proud of that.
This report was developed to bring you important information about your drinking water, in compliance with Federal requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Knowledge is power, and this document was designed to bring you the knowledge you need about the water you drink every day. You will learn about the quality of your water, the source of your drinking water, how we manage risks to our water supply, and the water treatment process. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (formerly the Department of Environmental Quality), is responsible for overseeing the operation of municipal water systems.
At the same time, Livonia employees work hard every day to continue delivering the safest and highest quality water to all our customers, in conjunction with our supplier, the Great Lakes Water Authority.
Thank you for reading this report. If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Wilson, Water Supervisor of Public Works, at (734)
Sincerely,
Mayor, City of Livonia
Safe Drinking Water Act
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is responsible for setting national limits for hundreds of substances in drinking water and also specified various treatments that water systems must use to remove these substances. Similarly, Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Each agency continually monitors for these substances and reports directly to the USEPA if they were detected in the drinking water. USEPA uses this data to ensure that consumers are receiving clean water and verify that states are enforcing the laws that regulate drinking water.
How Will I Know If There Is A Problem With My Water?
If the amount of a contaminant exceeds a predetermined safe level in your drinking water (MCL, Action Level, etc.) the City of Livonia Department of Public Works will notify you via newspapers, radio, TV and other means as soon as possible. With the notification, you will be instructed on what appropriate actions you can take to protect you and your family’s health. For information on the City of Livonia notifications via Nixle and social media sites go to the City’s website
City of Livonia
Substances Expected To Be In Drinking Water
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
-
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be
naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. - Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
- Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
People With Special Health Concerns
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Naturally Occurring Bacteria
The simple fact is, bacteria and other microorganisms inhabit our world. They can be found all around us; in our food; on our skin; in our bodies; and in the air, soil and water. Some are harmful to us and some are not. Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful themselves. The presence of this bacterial form in drinking water is a concern because they indicate that the water may be contaminated with other organisms that can cause disease. Throughout 2020, the City of Livonia tested 480w samples (40 samples every month) for coliform bacteria. In the entire year, there were no samples found to contain these nuisance bacteria.
City of Livonia
Cryptosporidium
GLWA voluntarily monitors our source water for the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. In 2020, the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were detected in the source water at the Belle Isle Detroit River Intake serving Water Works Park, Springwells and the Northeast treatment plants. Cryptosporidium was detected once in March and Giardia once in April. All other samples monitored in 2020 were absent for the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Current test methods do not enable us to determine if these organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals are able to overcome the disease within a few weeks. However,
LEAD
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Livonia is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you have a lead service line it is recommended that you run your water for at least 5 minutes to flush water from both your home plumbing and the lead service line. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800)
The City of Livonia is in the process of performing a material inventory of water service lines. A service line includes any section of pipe, both public and private, from the water main to the building plumbing at the water meter or 18 inches inside the building, whichever is shorter. The City did not historically record the materials used on the
Water Service Line Inventory Status 2020
Lead Service Lines
Lines of Unknown Material
Total Number of Service Lines
106
25,060
38,526
City of Livonia
Information on Source Water
Your source water comes from the Detroit River, situated within the Lake St. Clair, Clinton River, Detroit River, Rouge River, Ecorse River, in the U.S. and parts of the Thames River, Little River, Turkey Creek and Sydenham watersheds in Canada. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), and the Michigan Public Health Institute performed a source water assessment in 2004 to determine the susceptibility of potential contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a
The susceptibility of our Detroit River source water intakes were determined to be highly susceptible to potential contamination. However, all four Detroit water treatment plants that use source water from the Detroit River have historically provided satisfactory treatment of this source water to meet drinking water standards.
GLWA has initiated
In 2016, the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy approved GLWA’s Surface Water Intake Protection plan for the Belle Isle intake. The plan has seven elements that include: roles and duties of government units and water supply agencies, delineation of a source water protection areas, identification of potential sources of contamination, management approaches for protection, contingency plans, siting of new water sources, public participation and public education activities. GLWA is in the process of updating the plan which should be completed by September 2021. If you would like to know more information about the Source Water Assessment Report please, contact GLWA at (313
How is The Water Treated?
The treatment plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with Chlorine to kill microorganisms that can cause illness. Next, a chemical called Alum is mixed with the water to remove the fine particles that make the water cloudy or turbid. Alum causes the particles to clump together and settle to the bottom. Fluoride is also added to protect our teeth from cavities and decay. The water then flows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove even more particles and certain microorganisms that are resistant to Chlorine. Finally, a small amount of Phosphoric Acid and Chlorine are added to the treated water just before it leaves the treatment plant. The Phosphoric Acid helps control any lead that may dissolve in water from household plumbing systems. The Chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through water mains to reach your homes. In addition to a carefully controlled and monitored treatment process, the water is tested for a variety of substances before treatment, during various stages of treatment and throughout the distribution system. Hundreds of samples are tested each week in the samples per month are taken from atory (40 GLWA’s certified labor various locations in the Livonia distribution system). In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
City of Livonia
What’s In My Water?
The State and EPA require that water be tested on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We have met all monitoring and reporting requirements for 2020. We are also pleased to report that during the past year, the water delivered to your homes or businesses complied with, or did better than, all State and Federal drinking water requirements. For your information, we have compiled a list in the table below showing what substances were detected in our drinking water and the last year in which the test was conducted. Although all of the substances listed below are under the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by U.S. EPA, and therefore not expected to cause any health risks, we feel it is important that you know exactly what was detected and how much of each substance was present in the water.
Outdoor Water Use Guidelines
You can help reduce instances of low water pressure by following these voluntary guidelines:
- Program automatic sprinkler systems to water between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am.
-
Avoid outdoor water use altogether between the hours of 5:00am
–9:00am and5:00pm-9:00pm
The amount of water that is used during summer peak demand hours is the one significant factor that can be controlled by Livonia water customers. You can help minimize annual rate increases by managing water purchases during peak summer demand hours.
Interesting Facts According to the EPA:
- The average garden hose dispenses 4 gallons a minute, or 240 gallons an hour.
- Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home.
- It takes 70 gallons of water to fill an average bathtub.
- The average family can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons of water annually just from household leaks.
- A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year alone.
For More Information
For information about this report, or for questions relating to your drinking water, please contact Tom Wilson, Water Supervisor of Public Works at twilson@ci.livonia.mi.us or (734)
City of Livonia
2020 Springwells Regulated Detected Contaminants Table
2020 Inorganic Chemicals - Annual Monitoring at Plant Finished Tap
Regulated |
Test |
|
Health |
Allowed |
Highest |
Range of |
|
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|
Unit |
Goal |
Level |
|
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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|
Level |
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Contaminant |
Date |
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Detection |
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MCLG |
MCL |
Detected |
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Erosion of natural deposit; Water |
|
Fluoride |
ppm |
4 |
4 |
0.63 |
n/a |
no |
additive, which promotes strong teeth; |
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Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum |
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factories. |
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Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching |
|
Nitrate |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
0.37 |
n/a |
no |
from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of |
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natural deposits. |
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Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge |
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Barium |
ppm |
2 |
2 |
0.01 |
n/a |
no |
from metal refineries; Erosion of |
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natural deposits. |
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2020 Disinfection Residual - Monitoring in the Distribution System
Regulated
Contaminant
Test
Date
Unit
Health |
Allowed Highest |
Range of |
|
Goal |
Level |
Level |
Quarterly Violation |
|
|
||
MRDLG |
MRDL |
RAA |
Results |
|
|
|
|
Major Sources in Drinking Water
Total Chlorine Residual
2020
ppm
4
4
0.70
no
Water additive used to control microbes
2020 Disinfection
|
Test |
|
Health |
Allowed |
Highest |
Range of |
|
|
|
Regulated |
Unit |
Goal |
Level |
Level |
Quarterly |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
||
Date |
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Contaminant |
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MCLG |
MCL |
LRAA |
Results |
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(TTHM) |
2020 |
ppb |
n/a |
80 |
38.0 |
no |
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Total Trihalomethanes |
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(HAA5) |
2020 |
ppb |
n/a |
60 |
22.25 |
<1 |
no |
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Haloacetic Acids |
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City of Livonia
2020 Turbidity - Monitored Every 4 Hours at the Plant Finished Water Tap
Highest Single |
Lowest Monthly % of Samples Meeting |
|
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|
Measurement Cannot |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
||
Turbidity Limit of 0.3 NTU (minimum 95%) |
||||
Exceed 1 NTU |
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0.21 NTU |
100% |
no |
Soil Runoff |
|
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Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of
Regulated Contaminant |
Treatment Technique |
Typical Source of Contaminant |
|
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The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal ratio is calculated as |
|
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Total Organic Carbon ppm |
the ratio between the actual TOC removal and the TOC removal |
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
requirements. The TOC is measured each quarter and because |
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the level is low, there is no requirement for TOC removal. |
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Lead and Copper Monitoring at the Customer’s Tap in 2020
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Range of |
Violation |
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Regulated |
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Health |
Action |
90th |
Number |
Individual |
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Test |
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of |
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Unit |
Goal |
Level |
Percentile |
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Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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Contaminant |
Date |
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Samples |
Samples |
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MCLG |
AL |
Value* |
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Over AL |
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Results |
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2020 |
ppb |
0 |
15 |
10 |
1 |
no |
Lead services lines, corrosion of |
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Lead |
household, plumbing including fittings |
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and fixtures; erosion of natural deposits” |
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Corrosion of household plumbing |
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Copper |
2020 |
ppm |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
0 |
no |
system; Erosion of natural deposits; |
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leaching from wood preservatives. |
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* The 90th percentile value means 90 percent of the homes tested have lead and copper levels below the given 90th percentile value. If the 90th percentile value is above the AL additional requirements must be met.
2020 Special Monitoring
Contaminant |
Test Date |
Unit |
MCLG |
MCL |
Highest Level Detected |
Source of Contaminant |
|
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Sodium |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
5.37 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
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These tables are based on tests conducted by GLWA in the year 2020 or the most recent testing done within the last five calendar years. GLWA conducts tests throughout the year only tests that show the presence of a substance or require special monitoring are presented in these tables. The State allows us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. All of the data is representative of the water quality, but some are more than one year old.
City of Livonia
2020 Springwells Mineral Analysis
Parameter |
Units |
Max. |
Min. |
Avg. |
|
|
|
|
|
Turbidity |
NTU |
0.19 |
0.03 |
0.08 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Solids |
ppm |
165 |
76 |
136 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Dissolved Solids |
ppm |
140 |
98 |
121 |
|
|
|
|
|
Aluminum |
ppm |
0.106 |
0.014 |
0.045 |
|
|
|
|
|
Iron |
ppm |
0.177 |
ND |
0.110 |
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
ppm |
0.008 |
ND |
0.001 |
|
|
|
|
|
Magnesium |
ppm |
7.82 |
5.93 |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
Calcium |
ppm |
31.2 |
23.5 |
27.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sodium |
ppm |
5.94 |
4.51 |
5.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
Potassium |
ppm |
1.06 |
0.89 |
0.98 |
|
|
|
|
|
Manganese |
ppm |
ND |
ND |
ND |
|
|
|
|
|
Lead |
ppm |
ND |
ND |
ND |
|
|
|
|
|
Zinc |
ppm |
ND |
ND |
ND |
|
|
|
|
|
Silica |
ppm |
2.4 |
ND |
1.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sulfate |
ppm |
31.8 |
21.9 |
25.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Chloride |
ppm |
11.6 |
8.5 |
9.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Phosphorus |
ppm |
1.17 |
0.16 |
0.53 |
|
|
|
|
|
Free Carbon Dioxide |
ppm |
10.4 |
5.7 |
7.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Hardness |
ppm |
108 |
98 |
102 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Alkalinity |
ppm |
74 |
66 |
70 |
|
|
|
|
|
Carbonate Alkalinity |
ppm |
ND |
ND |
ND |
|
|
|
|
|
ppm |
74 |
66 |
70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ppm |
39 |
26 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
ppm |
13.5 |
ND |
2.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dissolved Oxygen |
ppm |
13.8 |
8.8 |
11.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Nitrite Nitrogen |
ppm |
ND |
ND |
ND |
|
|
|
|
|
Fluoride |
ppm |
0.77 |
0.49 |
0.62 |
|
|
|
|
|
pH |
|
7.41 |
7.12 |
7.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
Specific Conductance @ 25 °C. |
µohms |
243 |
213 |
224 |
|
|
|
|
|
Temperature |
°C |
24.6 |
3.5 |
13.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
City of Livonia
Key to the Detected Contaminants Table
Symbol |
Abbreviation |
Definition/Explanation |
|
|
|
AL |
Action Level |
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment |
|
|
or other requirements which a water system must follow. |
|
|
|
°C |
Celsius |
A scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under |
|
|
standard conditions. |
> |
Greater than |
|
HAA5 |
Haloacetic Acids |
HAA5 is the total of bromoacetic, chloroacetic, |
|
|
dichloroacetic, and trichloroacetic acids. Compliance is based on the total. |
Level 1 |
Level 1 Assessment |
A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential |
|
|
problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been |
|
|
found in our system. |
LRAA |
Locational Running Annual Average |
The average of analytical results for samples at a particular monitoring |
|
|
location during the previous four quarters. |
MCL |
Maximum Contaminant Level |
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs |
|
|
are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment |
|
|
technology. |
MCLG |
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known |
|
|
or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow a margin of safety. |
MRDL |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is |
|
|
convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control |
|
|
of microbial contaminants. |
MRDLG |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or |
|
Goal |
expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of |
|
|
disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. |
|
|
|
n/a |
not applicable |
|
ND |
Not Detected |
|
NTU |
Nephelometric Turbidity Units |
Measures the cloudiness of water. |
pCi/L |
Picocuries Per Liter |
A measure of radioactivity |
ppb |
Parts Per Billion (one in one billion) |
The ppb is equivalent to micrograms per liter. |
|
|
A microgram = 1/1000 milligram. |
ppm |
Parts Per Million (one in one million) |
The ppm is equivalent to milligrams per liter. |
|
|
A milligram = 1/1000 gram. |
RAA |
Running Annual Average |
The average of all analytical results for all samples during the previous four |
|
|
quarters. |
SMCL |
Secondary Maximum Contaminant |
|
|
Level |
|
TT |
Treatment Technique |
A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking |
|
|
water. |
TTHM |
Total Trihalomethanes |
Total Trihalomethanes is the sum of chloroform, bromodichloromethane, |
|
|
dibromochloromethane and bromoform. Compliance is based on the total. |
μohms |
Microohms |
Measure of electrical conductance of water |
|
|
|
Contaminants
Livonia
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 96942
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Purchased surface water
- Total: 5
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Water Source
The city’s source of water comes from the Detroit River, situated within the Lake St. Clair, Clinton River, Detroit River, Rogue River, Ecorse River, in the U.S., and parts of the Thames River, Little River, Turkey Creek, and Sydenham watersheds in Canada. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), and the Michigan Public Health Institute, performed a source water assessment in 2004 to determine the susceptibility of potential contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a seven-tiered scale from very low to very high based primarily on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry, and contaminant sources.
The susceptibility of our Detroit River source water intakes was determined to be highly susceptible to potential contamination. However, all four Detroit water treatment plants that use source water from the Detroit River have historically provided satisfactory treatment of this source water to meet drinking water standards.
How is water treated?
The treatment plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with Chlorine to kill microorganisms that can cause illness. Next, a chemical called Alum is mixed with the water to remove the fine particles that make the water cloudy or turbid. Alum causes the particles to clump together and settle to the bottom. Fluoride is also added to protect our teeth from cavities and decay. The water then flows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove even more particles and certain microorganisms resistant to Chlorine. Finally, a small amount of Phosphoric Acid and Chlorine is added to the treated water just before it leaves the treatment plant.
Phosphoric Acid helps control any lead that may dissolve in water from household plumbing systems. Chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through water mains to reach your homes.
In addition to a carefully controlled and monitored treatment process, the water is tested for various substances before, during multiple treatment stages, and throughout the distribution system. Hundreds of samples are tested each week per month are taken from atory (40 GLWA’s certified labor various locations in the Livonia distribution system). To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations limiting the number of specific contaminants in water provided by public water systems.