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Is Sterling Heights Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:47 pm, July 29, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Sterling Heights?

Yes, Sterling Heights's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Sterling Heights 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, Sterling Heights's water utility, City of Sterling Heights, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Sterling Heights was resolved on June 30, 2013. This assessment is based on the City of Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Sterling Heights Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Sterling Heights for Sterling Heights in Michigan. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From April 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013, Sterling Heights 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: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM.

Is there Lead in Sterling Heights Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Sterling Heights water system, City of Sterling Heights, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Sterling Heights water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Sterling Heights contained more lead.

While Sterling Heights water testing may have found 0.0 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 Sterling Heights 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 - Selfridge Air National Guard Base - near Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights 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.

Sterling Heights 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
04/01/2013 - 06/30/2013 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)
04/01/2013 - 06/30/2013 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)

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

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
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.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
show details
Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Sterling Heights Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO WE KNOW OUR WATER IS SAFE?
The GLWA treatment facilities operate 24 hoursa day, sevendays a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with chlorine to kill harmful 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 togetherand settle to the bottom. Fluoride is also added to protect our teethfrom cavities and decay. The water thenflows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove evenmore particles and certain microorganisms that are resistant to chlorine. Finally, a small amount of orthophosphates and chlorine are added to the treated water just before it leavesthe treatment plant. The orthophosphates helps control the lead that may dissolve in water from householdplumbing systems. The chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through the water mains to reach your home. In addition to a carefully controlledand monitored treatment process, the water is tested for a variety of substances before treatment, during various stages of treatment,and throughoutthe distribution system. GLWA tests hundredsof samples each week in their certified laboratories by a highly qualified, trained staff. For more information about safe drinking water, visit the EPA at www.epa.gov/safewater/. The City of Sterling Heights will notify you immediately if there is everany reason for concern about our water.
HOW DO I CONTACT STERLING HEIGHTS CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Sterling Heights water provider, City of Sterling Heights, please use the information below.
By Mail: 12449 U.S. 27
DEWITT, MI, 48820
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their City of Sterling Heights account to pay their Sterling Heights water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your City of Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Sterling Heights 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.

HOW TO START & STOP STERLING HEIGHTS WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Sterling Heights means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Sterling Heights. 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.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Sterling Heights means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Sterling Heights. 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.

Stop Service Form

The estimated price of bottled water

$2 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Sterling Heights tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 29% Low
  • Water Pollution 47% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 71% High
  • Water Quality 53% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Sterling Heights, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is cloudy water safe?

A. Water that appears milky is usually the result of harmless tiny air bubbles (dissolved oxygen) trapped in the water, like gas bubbles in carbonated soft drinks. After a glass of this water sits for afew minutes, the water will become clear as the air bubbles float to the top. Since cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water, this type of cloudiness occurs more oftenin winter. As the water warms up in your householdplumbing, the extra oxygen doesnot stay dissolved and is released;thus air bubbles. Air bubbles do not affect the safety of the water. If you experience cloudy water that does notclear after five minutes, call the Department of Public Works at (586)446-2440.

Q. Is the chlorine used to disinfect water harmful to my health?

A. The GLWA uses chlorine to disinfectour drinking water. Chlorine has been used to treat municipal water in theUnited States since 1908 and it is the most effective way to ensure that waterstays disinfected as it travels throughwater deliverysystems. Chlorine preventswaterborne epidemics such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis. The amount of chlorine in the drinking water as it leaves the treatment plant is typically 1 milligram per liter (ppm). Chlorine in this quantity poses no known or expected healthrisk.

Detected Contamination Tables

Thesetablesare basedon testsconductedbyGLWAin2020. Many tests are conducted throughoutthe year however,only teststhatshow thepresenceof a contaminantare shown here. Belowis a keyto thetermsused in thetablesthroughoutthis report.

Symbol

Abbreviation for

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 0and boils at 100under standard

conditions.

 

 

>

Greater than

 

HAA5

Haloacetic Acids

HAA5 is the total of bromoacetic, chloroacetic, dibromoacetic, dichloroacetic, and

trichloroacetic acids. Compliance is based on the total.

 

 

LRAA

Locational Running Annual

The average of analytical results for samples at a particular monitoring location

Average

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 technologies.

MCLG

Maximum Contaminant Level

The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or

 

Goal

expected risk to health.

 

Maximum Residual

The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing

MRDL

evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial

Disinfectant Level

 

contaminants.

 

 

 

Maximum Residual Disinfectant

The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or

MRDLG

expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of

 

Level Goal

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

1 ppb = micrograms/liter. A microgram =1/1000 milligram. (one in one billion)

 

 

 

ppm

Parts Per Million

1 ppm = 1 milligram/liter. A milligram =1/1,000 gram. (one in one million)

 

 

 

RAA

Running Annual Average

The average of analytical results for all samples during the previous four quarters.

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.

 

 

µmhos

Microohms

Measure of electrical conductance of water.

The state of Michigan allows communities, such as Sterling Heights, to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrationsof these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year.

All of the data in the charts below is representative of the water quality, but some testing data is more than one year old.

2020 RegulatedDetected ContaminantsTables of Water Delivered from the Great Lakes Water Authority

Inorganic Chemicals – Monitoring at Plant Finished Water Tap

Regulated

Test

 

Health

Allowed

Level

Range of

Violation

 

Unit

Goal

Level

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Contaminant

Date

Detected

Detection

yes/no

 

MCLG

MCL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposits: Water additive, which

Fluoride

ppm

4

4

0.72

n/a

no

promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and

10, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

aluminum factories

Nitrate

March

ppm

10

10

0.3

n/a

no

Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks &

10, 2020

sewage; Erosion of natural deposits

Barium

May 16,

ppm

2

2

0.01

n/a

no

Discharge from drilling wastes; Discharge from metal

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

refineries; Erosion of natural deposits

 

 

Disinfection By-Products – Monitoring in Distribution System Stage 2 Disinfection By-Products

Regulated

Test

Unit

Health

Allowed

Highest

Range of

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Contaminant

Date

Goal

Level

LRAA

Detection

yes/no

 

MCLG

MCL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total TTHM

2020

ppb

n/a

80

35

13-49

no

By-product of drinking water chlorination

HAA5

2020

ppb

n/a

60

17

11-18

no

By-product of drinking water disinfection

 

 

 

Disinfectant Residual – Monitoring in Distribution System by Treatment Plant

Regulated

Test

Unit

Health

Allowed

Highest

Range of

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Contaminant

Date

Goal

Level

RAA

Detection

yes/no

 

MRDGL

MRDL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Chlorine

Jan-Dec

ppm

4

4

0.77

0.7-0.85

no

Water additive used to control microbes

Residual

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulated

 

 

Treatment Technique

 

Typical Source of Contaminant

Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal ratio is calculated as the

 

Total Organic

ratio between the actual TOC and the TOC removal requirements.

Erosion of natural deposits

Carbon (ppm)

The TOC was measured each month and because the level was low,

 

there is no TOC removal requirement.

 

 

 

2020Turbidity – Monitoredevery four hoursat Plant Finished Water Tap

Highest Single Measurement

Lowest Monthly % of Samples Meeting Turbidity

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Cannot Exceed 1 NTU

Limit of 0.3 NTU (minimum 95%)

yes/no

 

0.1 NTU

100%

no

Soil Runoff

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

2014 Radionuclides

Regulated

Test Date

Unit

Health Goal

Allowed

Level Detected

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Contaminant

MCLG

Level

Yes/No

 

 

 

 

Combined Radium

May 13,

pCi/L

0

5

+0.86 or -0.55

No

Erosion of Natural Deposits

226 and 228

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Sterling Heights Lead and Copper Testing Results

Regulated

Test

 

Health

Action

90th

Number of

Violation

 

Unit

Goal

Level

Percentile

Samples

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Contaminant

Date

 

MCLG

AL

Value

Over AL

yes/no

 

Lead

2020

ppb

0

15

0

0

no

Corrosion of household plumbing system; Erosion of

natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

2020

ppm

1.3

1.3

0.04

0

no

Corrosion of household plumbing system; Erosion of

natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* 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. Sterling Heights has 0 lead service lines. All 39,016 service lines in Sterling Heights are of known materials.

2020 Special Monitoring

Regulated

 

 

Health

Allowed

Level

 

Contamina

Test Date

Unit

Goal

Level

Typical Source of Contaminant

Detected

nt

 

 

MCLG

MCL

 

Sodium

March 10, 2020

ppm

n/a

n/a

5.92

Erosion of natural deposits

Unrelated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. Monitoring helps EPA to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether it needs to regulate those contaminants

Annual

Water

Quality

2020

Report

Important Information on Sterling Heights Water Quality & Safety

Sterling Heights City Council

Mayor Michael C. Taylor

Mayor Pro Tem Liz Sierawski

Councilwoman Deanna Koski

Councilman Michael V. Radtke Jr.

Councilwoman Maria G. Schmidt

Councilman Henry Yanez

Councilwoman Barbara A. Ziarko

City Manager

Mark Vanderpool

Public Works Director

Michael Moore

www.sterling-heights.net/waterquality (586) 446-CITY (2489)

03/2021

About Our System

Drinking water quality is important to our community and the region. The City of Sterling Heights and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are committed to meeting state and federal water quality standards, including the Lead and Copper Rule.

With the Great Lakes as our water source and proven treatment technologies, the GLWA consistently delivers safe drinking water to our community. SterlingHeights operates the system of water mains that carry this water to your homes service line.

This year’s Water Quality Report highlights the performance of GLWA and the City of Sterling Heights water professionals in delivering some of the nation’s best drinking water. Together, we remain committed to protecting public healthand maintaining open communication with the public about our drinking water.

Source Water

Yoursource water comes fromone of two sources:

  • The Detroit River,within Lake St. Clair, and several watersheds within the United States and Canada, or
  • The lower Lake Huron watershedwhich includes numerous short,seasonal streams that drain to Lake Huron.

The MDEQin partnership with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and several othergovernmental agencies performed a source water assessment in 2004 to determine the susceptibility or relative potentialof 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 the Detroit Riversource water intakes were determinedto be highly susceptible to potential contamination. The Lake Huron source water intake is categorized as having a moderately low susceptibility to potential contaminate sources.

However,all GLWA water treatment plants that use source water from the Detroit Riverand Lake Huronhave historically provided satisfactory treatment of these sources to meet drinking water standards.

GLWA has initiated source-water protection activities that include chemical containment, spill response, and a mercury reductionplan. GLWA participates in a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit discharge program and has an emergency response management plan. GLWA voluntarily developedand received approval for a Source Water Protection Program (SWIPP) for the Detroit River and Lake Huron intakes. This programs includes sevenelements that include the following: roles and duties of government units and water supply agencies, delineation of a source water protection area, identification of potential source water protection area, management approaches for protection, contingency plans, citing of new sources, and public participation and education. For more information, contact the Sterling Heights Department of Public Works at (586) 446-2440.

How Do We Know Our Water is Safe?

The GLWA treatment facilities operate 24 hoursa day, sevendays a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with chlorine to kill harmful 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 togetherand settle to the bottom.

Fluoride is also added to protect our teethfrom cavities and decay. The water thenflows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove evenmore particles and certain microorganisms that are resistant to chlorine.

Finally, a small amount of orthophosphates and chlorine are added to the treated water just before it leavesthe treatment plant. The orthophosphates helps control the lead that may dissolve in water from householdplumbing systems. The chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through the water mains to reach your home.

In addition to a carefully controlledand monitored treatment process, the water is tested for a variety of substances before treatment, during various stages of treatment,and throughoutthe distribution system.

GLWA tests hundredsof samples each week in their certified laboratories by a highly qualified, trained staff.

For more information about safe drinking water, visit the EPA at www.epa.gov/safewater/.

The City of Sterling Heights will notify you immediately if there is everany reason for concern about our water.

Additional Information

In orderto ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the 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 forcontaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking Water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does notnecessarily indicate that water poses a healthrisk. More information about contaminants can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800)426- 4791.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels overthe surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations,and wildlife.
  • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or resultfrom urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
  • Pesticides and herbicides, from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoffand residential uses.
  • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoffand septic systems.
  • Radioactive contaminants, naturally occurring or the resultof oil and gas production and mining activities.

Public Participation Opportunities

The City of Sterling Heights and the GLWA are committed to safeguarding our water supply and delivering the highest quality drinking water to protect public health. Please direct any questions or concerns to the Department of Public Works at (586) 446-2440.

Health Information

Lead

Safe drinking water is a shared responsibility. The water that GLWA delivers to our community doesnot contain lead. Lead can leach into drinking water through home plumbing fixtures, and in some cases, customer service lines. Corrosioncontrol reducesthe risk of lead and copper from leaching into your water.

Orthophosphates are added during the treatment process as a corrosion control method to create a protective coating in service pipes throughoutthe system, including in your home or business. The City of Sterling Heights performs required lead and copper sampling and testing in our community. Water consumers also have a responsibility to maintain the plumbing in their homes and businesses, and can take steps to limit their exposure to lead.

If present, elevated levelsof lead can cause serious healthproblems, 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 Sterling Heights 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 secondsto 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.Information onlead in drinking water, testing methods,and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline

  1. 426-4791or at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

People With Special Health Concerns

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or otherimmune system disorders, some elderly,and infants may 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 lessenthe risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791

Contaminants


City of Sterling Heights

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: 127000
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Purchased surface water
  • Total: 6

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Strontium
  • Testosterone
  • 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

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Recently, Sterling Heights, Michigan resident Stephanie Pizzato went to the doctor''s office complaining of stomach pain. When she went in for a physical, the physician prescribed a course of anti-depressant medication and prescribed that she use a portable water filtration system while she waited for her medication to take effect.

"It''s been my experience that you are given a lot of advice if you''re in the high school or college level," she said. "You will be told to get rid of any toxins from your body because they are the causes of the illnesses and ailments in your life.

If Stephanie had known about tap water filtration, she might have taken that advice. Instead, she decided to pay for a home water filter system.

In addition to making her body more healthy, she found that her drinking tap water was free of parasites, chemicals, viruses and other contaminants that could have caused her stomach ache. "If you take the time to educate y

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