Lead and Copper Update

Jan. 1, 2022

The City of Oak Park would like to thank the residents for their combined efforts to replace the private lead service lines throughout the city. In September 2019, our lead and copper sampling program resulted in a small number of homes with a lead action level exceedance.  As a result, the city conducted an public open house meeting to inform the residents and hand out water filters to those who qualified. We also mailed information flyers and administered an extensive in-home inspection program to determine a resident's private service line material. Well over 1,000 residents invited us into their homes to inspect their water line. These inspections assisted the city in finding over 100 residents with a private lead service line. Staff worked diligently to hire a qualified contractor to begin these replacements for our residents, free of charge. Within about six months of this investigation, the city completed the replacement of all of these private lead service lines, except for two vacant bank-owned homes.  In mid-2021, the city was able to gain access to one of these homes, leaving just one vacant home left with a private lead service line.  Over the past two years, the city has conducted over 150 lead and copper samples to ensure the quality of our water system.  Because of our efforts to remove these private lead service lines, we have not had another 90^th percentile action level exceedance.  The city will continue to monitor our water system and sample for lead and copper as required by the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). This work would not have been possible without your help, thank you!  

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

David DeCoster
Deputy Director of Public Works / Director of Facilities
Department of Public Works
City of Oak Park
10600 Capital Avenue
Oak Park, MI 48237
Direct: (248) 691-7465
Fax: (248) 691-7168

www.oakparkmi.gov