Is Detroit’s tap water drinkable? This is a common concern for most people living in the Detroit area. However, if you remember the Flint water crisis or are considering moving to Detroit, you are likely to experience the same level of anxiety.
Unfortunately the answer is unknown. Think twice about drinking tap water, as it contains measurable levels of lead, copper, and many other contaminants. Alongside them, the chlorine levels used to treat Detroit’s tap water are extremely high.
In short, you should avoid drinking tap water in Detroit if you don’t want to experience mild to severe health problems. Want to know more about why Detroit’s tap water is unsafe? Stick with this article. to discover all the reasons and aspects.
Is tap water safe to drink?
In most developed countries, tap water is safe to drink. However, there are some places where filtered tap water is the only safe way to drink. You should also contact your local government to ensure that your tap water complies with drinking water safety requirements.
There are many places, like Detroit, where tap water can be contaminated with chromium, nitrates, pathogens, bacteria and other harmful elements that can make people sick.
So be careful whenever you are thinking of drinking tap water. However, you can use a quality water filter to remove harmful contaminants and you don’t want to get sick.
What is the source of Detroit tap water?
Detroit does not have a single source of tap water, the Detroit Sewerage Authority (DWSD) system collects water from multiple sources, including Lake Huron and the Detroit River.
Basically, the water from the Detroit River is Belle Isle intake It is then refined at our Northeast and Spring Wells plants. Meanwhile, water taken from Lake Huron is purified at the Lake Huron Treatment Plant.
Despite multiple water sources and purification systems, Detroit’s tap water is not safe to drink.Authorities still don’t have the capacity to reduce harmful substances Detroit tap water contaminants.
So think twice before drinking tap water in the Detroit area.
Is Detroit tap water drinkable?
If you live in Detroit, you already have a simple idea of why you shouldn’t drink the tap water. This section covers this aspect in detail. Contaminants in Detroit tap water have long been a concern.
Unfortunately, the authorities have yet to reverse these issues. The tap water in this city still contains many harmful contaminants and can be checked. ewg.org/tapwater.
For example, take the city of Detroit, home to over 500,000 people. Run a test on the provided website to find out what contaminants are in Detroit tap water.
Contaminants Detected in Detroit Tap Water
Below are examples of contaminants found after testing.
Chromium (Hexavalent):
Chromium (hexavalent) concentrations in Detroit tap water are more than five times the EWG recommended value. Detroit tap water contains 0.116 ppb of chromium, while EWG’s proposal is 0.02 ppb. Excessive intake of chromium can lead to health problems such as cancer.
Haloacetic acid (HAA5)†:
The next substance discovered in tap water was haloacetic acid (HAA5). Detroit tap water contains 127 times more haloacetic acids (12.7 ppb) than the EWG safety guideline (0.1 ppb). It is also an important culprit that can lead to cancer.
Haloacetic acid (HAA9)†:
Detroit contains 20.1 ppb of haloacetic acid (HAA9), 335 times the EWG limit (0.06 ppb). High levels of haloacetic acids can cause cancer and many other health-related diseases.
nitrate:
The amount of nitrates in Detroit tap water is enough to cause cancer. Detroit tap water contains 0.573 ppm nitrates, but EWG indicates 0.14 ppm is safe for drinking.
Radium, combined (-226 & -228):
Detroit tap water contains a total of 0.59 pCi/L of radium, but EWG suggests a concentration of only 0.05 pCi/L, making the water safe to drink. Radium is also a major cause of cancer.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)†:
The total amount of trihalomethanes in Detroit tap water is 198 times higher than the water recommended by EWG. Detroit tap water contains 29.7 ppb of total trihalomethanes, with a permissible limit of 0.15 ppb. And drinking water with high levels of total trihalomethanes definitely leads to cancer.
Other types of contaminants:
Detroit tap water has many other types of Detroit found at higher than standard levels. Such as fluoride which can cause neurological problems, arthritis and more. Barium, strontium, and many other contaminants that end up in Detroit can certainly make you sick or cause serious health problems.
Note: These are some of the major contaminants found in Detroit tap water. Most contaminants have higher legal limits than the EWG suggests, but ignoring the EWG statistics is not a good idea.
How to remove contaminants from tap water?
Luckily, there are methods you can follow to remove contaminants from the water that comes out of your tap.
Filter water:
Using a water filter is one of the best ways to remove contaminants from your water. Reverse osmosis filters, carbon filters, ceramic filters, etc. can be used.
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection:
Using UV disinfection to kill contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in tap water is one of the most important methods. A UV disinfector can be set up on the main water line for whole house treatment.
distillation:
In this method, water is heated to generate steam, which is then cooled to produce purified water. Heavy metals and other contaminants can be removed by distillation, but this process can be energy intensive.
Chlorination:
Chlorine is an effective solution to remove bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. Chlorine can remove contaminants from water, but it can also impart a chlorine flavor to water.
Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that can be used to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. Chlorination can effectively remove impurities from water, but it may leave the water with a chlorine taste.
Ozone treatment:
Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that can be used to remove chemical contaminants, destroy bacteria, and eliminate taste and odor problems. This method can be combined with other techniques, including filtration, to provide a more thorough kind of treatment.
Note: It is important to remember that the appropriate technique will vary depending on the exact contaminants in your water.
Detroit Water Quality Rank: Customer Satisfaction
According to a 2019 report produced by The Detroit News, the Detroit Water and Sewer Authority has a customer satisfaction rating of 702, below the Midwest utility average of 711. With scores of 759 and 742 respectively, Indiana American Water and Missouri American Water were first in the Midwest and he was second.
Conclusion: Is the tap water in Detroit drinkable?
Now you have a pretty good idea of Detroit tap water and whether it’s safe to drink. So avoid drinking directly from the tap if you don’t want to experience any health problems. However, you can remove contaminants from your water by following the steps provided in this article.