INKSTER, Mich. – The city of Inkster is alerting residents that elevated levels of lead were found in the drinking water of some homes and buildings.
Tap water is periodically tested for lead and copper, and the city recently collected samples from 34 homes with lead service lines, according to a release from the city on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
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“The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) evaluates compliance with the Action Level based on the 90th percentile of lead and copper results collected in each round of sampling,” the city said. “The lead 90th percentile for Inkster is 18 parts per billion (ppb), which exceeds the Action Level of 12 ppb.”
The Action Level indicates how well corrosion is being controlled, but it is not a health-based standard.
The ideal amount of lead in drinking water is zero parts per billion, as there is no safe level of lead in the bloodstream, according to the city.
The exceedance of the Action Level means that more than 10% of the homes tested had results over 12 ppb. Four sites were over the action level, according to the city.
Due to this, there will be ongoing sampling every six months, and the pipes that connect homes to the water main will be replaced.
“Lead can cause serious health and development problems, according to the MDHHS website. ”It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults."
The city shared the following tips for residents to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water:
- Learn what your service line material is. Residents can call Inkster’s Department of Public Services at 313-563-9774 or a licensed plumber to find out what material the line is made of.
- Homes with lead service lines have an increased risk of high lead levels in drinking water. Run the water before using it for drinking or cooking. The risk of high lead levels in drinking water is elevated when water sits in the pipes for a longer period.
- People who have lead service lines, or aren’t sure if they do, are encouraged to use a certified lead-reducing drinking water filter until they are able to get the lines replaced. Look for filters that are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction.
- Use cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking and making baby formula.
- Filter cold water, then boil the filtered water if necessary, as boiling water won’t remove lead from the water.
- Clean your faucet aerator.
Inkster also participates in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Faucet and Filter Safety Net Program. Eligible residents must have lead or galvanized plumbing, OR a lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence, OR old faucets and fittings sold before 2014. They also must have a Medicaid-enrolled child (or children) under 19 or a Medicaid-enrolled pregnant person within the household.
Anyone who meets these requirements can call the MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 844-934-1315.
If you want to get your service line expected or want more information about testing water for lead, call 313-563-9744 or click here to find certified labs.
For more information, visit here.