This blog post summarizes new requirements for low lead “lead-free” plumbing devices, outlines what to look for when shopping for new plumbing materials, and it identifies older materials that might put you at increased risk of lead exposure. 

"Benton Harbor: From Lead Crisis to Lead-Free” published in Journal of American Water Works Association, September 2023 

The Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan and Safe Water Engineering, LLC recently conducted a program evaluation of a water leak repair pilot program initiated by the State of Michigan to repair leaks in individual homes in Highland Park and Benton Harbor, Michigan.  

Perhaps you’ve read the recent article in The Guardian regarding the shocking levels of lead found in Chicago’s drinking water. The article was based on data from results of water tests conducted for Chicago residents between 2016 and 2021. And while much of the data has been publicly available for years, Chicago itself has never released an analysis of the results.

To get this conversation off the ground, and with funding from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Safe Water Engineering prepared a white paper, Deconstructing the Cost of Lead Service Line Replacement, to describe and quantify the cost of bold, large scale lead service line replacement (LSLR) programs that include resident-focused outreach and risk mitigation activities.

Water infrastructure is essential for meeting and managing basic human needs. Public health begins and ends with clean and available water. But the cost of water services has been increasing over the years, making it more difficult for low-income residents to afford their water bills.