EPA Research Partner Support Story: Using water filters to reduce lead in drinking water

Partners: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Challenge: Helping Benton Harbor residents know the importance of using water filters to reduce lead in their drinking water
Resource: Field research and technical support­­
Project Period: 2021

In the fall of 2021, the state of Michigan was responding to a continuing challenge of increased levels of lead, which is toxic to humans, in the city of Benton Harbor’s water system. In response, the Michigan DHHS began providing the Berrien County Health Department with water filters to distribute to residents of the city. Two types of filters were distributed—pitchers and faucet-mounted, point-of-use (POU). Both types were certified by NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction to reduce the level of lead in tap water. 

“The results of EPA’s Benton Harbor filter study were a key component in informing the public health on what steps they could take to protect their families from lead in drinking water.” – Michigan EGLE Liesl Clark (former Director)

To support the state’s response and to address concerns raised in a Safe Drinking Water Act petition filed on behalf of the residents of Benton Harbor, EPA’s Office of Water requested that ORD conduct a filter effectiveness study. EPA ORD researchers designed the study to address two major concerns: 1) lead levels in some residences exceeded the certified capacity of the filters, 150 parts per billion (ppb), and 2) lead nanoparticles small enough to pass through the filters might be forming in the water.

ORD scientists worked closely with EPA Region 5 (Midwest), Michigan EGLE and Michigan DHHS to develop a drinking water sampling protocol to evaluate NSF/ANSI 53 certified water filters in the city of Benton Harbor. They also collected additional water samples to identify lead sources in the community and determine if lead nanoparticles were forming.

A joint team of representatives from ORD, EPA Region 5, Michigan EGLE and DHHS was rapidly deployed to the city to conduct door-to-door water sampling, water filter installation, and education. The team initially operated out of Benton Harbor’s water treatment plant and later moved to one of the local community colleges. The team worked with local organizations to identify residences to be sampled. From November 9 to December 17, 2021, EPA was on the ground in Benton Harbor collecting and couriering water samples to EPA’s Chicago Regional Laboratory where they were analyzed for lead and other water quality parameters.

A total of 307 properly operated and certified filtered water samples (from 199 locations) were collected and 100% of the filters performed as they were certified, meaning that all filtered water samples had lead concentrations of 5 ppb or less. Ninety percent of the filtered water samples were below the 0.5 ppb laboratory reporting limit for lead, and none of the filtered water samples contained lead greater than 2.5 ppb. These results confirmed that the filters are effective in removing lead in Benton Harbor drinking water.