The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on changes being made to its lead and copper rule.
The department will lower the state action level for lead in water from 15 parts per billion to ten parts per billion.
Eric Oswald is with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. He said the state will also require the removal of lead service lines at a rate of 7% per year.
“Our goal is to make the rules more understandable, easier to enforce, more indicative of the highest risk and also require that the lead gets removed from the system.”
Oswald said the department has extended the public comment period through March 21st - but they have already received over 500 comments.
“We’re getting a lot of comments from both sides. Folks who think we aren’t going far enough on the Lead removal and the requirements and other people who think that we’re going too far and it’s too expensive and it diverts resources from other efforts.”
Oswald says if the rule takes effect it will be the most stringent lead and copper rule in the country.
Oswald says he is hopeful the rule change will go into effect in December.
The DEQ is holding a hearing on the rule Thursday to explain the change.