(WWJ) High levels of lead have been found in drinking water at two Royal Oak Township homes.
The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's Office says additional samples will be taken to determine the extent of the problem in the township.
And to alert residents to the issue, county workers are going door-to-door on Tuesday passing out information about the risks.
“We could have put the informational packets in the mail, but I wanted to take the extra step to get the information out quickly,” said Commissioner Jim Nash. “Although the elevated levels were detected in just two homes, the packet is going to every township resident.”
In addition to the educational outreach efforts, Royal Oak Township will host a drive-through free water filter distribution event on December 1, from 2-5 p.m. at the Township's Recreation Center at 21272 Mendota. Free water filters will be available to qualifying homes.
To qualify, a home must be connected to Royal Oak Township's water supply, have a pregnant woman and/or child(ren) under the age of 18 living or spending considerable time in the home, and be on WIC, Medicaid, or be willing to say that you cannot afford the cost of a water filter.
“As Water Resources Commissioner, my highest priority is protecting the health and safety of the people I serve,” Nash said. “I want to ensure residents have all the necessary information to safeguard themselves and their families.”
Related
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lead in drinking water can cause serious health problems. Because no safe blood level has been identified for young children, all sources of lead exposure for children should be controlled or eliminated, the CDC says. (More from the CDC).
Most kids and adults who are exposed to lead have no symptoms. If you think that you or your child has been exposed to lead in water, you should contact your health care provider.
For more information for Royal Oak Twp. residents, visit www.oakgov.com/RoyalOakTwpWater or call 248-452-9158.