Lead in Drinking Water | City of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can be harmful to human health. There is no safe level of lead exposure. Fetuses, infants, and young children are especially vulnerable.

The City’s drinking water is lead-free when it leaves the water filtration plant and as it moves through the water system. Lead can enter the water after it reaches your home, usually from household plumbing or a lead water service line. Before 1950, many water service lines were made of lead.

Taking Action

We take measures at the water filtration plant to limit your exposure to lead. We treat the water to prevent lead particles from breaking off a lead water service line or your home’s plumbing. We also test the drinking water for lead at various homes throughout the city every year.

The State of Michigan requires the city to replace all lead service lines by 2041. Typically, this occurs during scheduled road work to replace lead lines more efficiently.

Other Sources of Lead

In some homes, lead in water is not the only potential source of exposure for young children. Lead-based paint, lead in soil, and lead dust are significant risk factors for children living in pre-1978 housing. Lead dust from these sources can get onto children’s hands, which then gets into their mouths.

When ingested, it can cause various health problems, especially for pregnant women and children. The greatest concern is the impact of lead on the developing brain.

For more resources and information on lead exposure prevention, visit Get Ahead Of Lead.

Do I have a lead service line?

Use our tool to search your address and find the material of your water service line—the pipe that brings water into your home.

Lead Water Service Line Map

Lead Prevention Tips

Learn practical steps to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. This page provides prevention tips such as using cold water for drinking and cooking, flushing pipes, and using certified lead-reduction water filters when appropriate. It also explains how lead can enter drinking water through older plumbing or service lines and offers resources to help residents protect their households from lead exposure.

Lead Line Replacement Program

The City’s goal is to have all lead services replaced by 2041 or in accordance with the City’s Water/Sewer Comprehensive Master Plan. However, in October 2024, the EPA introduced new regulations requiring cities to complete lead service line replacements within 10 years. Michigan is expected to review and adopt this change in the coming years.

Third Ward Lead Reduction Program

The Third Ward Lead Reduction Program helps reduce lead exposure for residents in Grand Rapids’ Third Ward. Funded through the City’s Participatory Budgeting Initiative, the program provides free lead-reducing water kits and education to households with lead service lines through a partnership with the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.