Water in Detroit has been in the spotlight for years. Officials say the drinking water is safe and meets federal and state standards, yet many residents still worry about what actually comes out of their tap. Both views are partly true. The water leaving the treatment plants is very clean, but aging lead service lines, old home plumbing, Detroit River pollution, and harmful algal blooms on nearby Lake Erie mean that risks can be very different from one block, or even one house, to the next.
This article explains how Detroit tap water is treated, where the real problems start, and what you can do. You’ll learn how to check your own plumbing, what water filters and RO systems actually help, how the city of Detroit and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are fixing issues, and how to stay informed without panic.
Is Detroit Tap Water Safe?
For most people, Detroit’s tap water is “mostly safe, with caveats.” That may sound vague, so here is what it means in plain language.
The GLWA treatment plants that supply water in Detroit treat and disinfect water from the Detroit River and Lake Huron to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. At the plant, the water is essentially lead‑free, tested for bacteria, and checked for many chemicals. In 2023, the 90th percentile lead level in Detroit’s Lead and Copper Rule samples was 9 parts per billion (ppb), which is below the federal action level of 15 ppb. On paper, the Detroit water quality report shows legal compliance.
But plant-level safety is not the whole story. Most lead in Detroit water does not come from the plant. It comes from lead service lines, old pipes, solder, and fixtures between the the water main and your kitchen tap. That part of the water system is different for every home. So one house may have very low lead, while another on the same street may have much higher levels.
Key groups who should be extra careful with Detroit tap water include:
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Infants, children, and pregnant people
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People in older homes with lead pipes or plumbing
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The elderly and people with weak immune systems
If you are asking, “Is Detroit tap water safe to drink?”, the short answer is:
For many homes, yes, especially after simple steps like flushing the tap. But in homes with lead service lines or very old plumbing, unfiltered tap water may not be safe for babies and children, because there is no safe level of lead for a child’s brain.
How Water in Detroit Is Sourced and Treated
Understanding the origins and treatment process of Detroit’s water helps explain why tap water is generally safe, and where potential risks can arise after it leaves the treatment plant.
Where Detroit’s drinking water comes from
The water in Detroit comes mainly from two Great Lakes sources:
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The Detroit River, which connects Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie
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Lake Huron, through large intakes farther north
These waters are part of the Great Lakes, which together hold about 20% of the world’s fresh surface water. For southeast Michigan, they are the main source water for both cities and suburbs.
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) runs several big treatment plants that pull in water from the Detroit River and Lake Huron through intake pipes. From there, the water goes through a series of treatment steps before it is pumped out to the city of Detroit and many nearby communities.
Detroit’s water system: GLWA vs. DWSD responsibilities
The Detroit water system is split between two main agencies:
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GLWA GLWA handles source water, runs the treatment plants, and sells treated public water wholesale to cities and suburbs. GLWA also manages some major transmission mains that move water long distances.
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Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) DWSD takes treated water from GLWA and manages the local pipes, service connections, meters, billing, and customer service inside the city of Detroit. DWSD is also leading the lead service line replacement work.
Many suburban communities also buy water from GLWA but have their own local utilities, so their risks may be slightly different from Detroit’s.
Treatment steps from raw water to tap
Before you drink it, water from the Detroit River or Lake Huron travels through several standard water treatment steps. The exact details vary by plant, but the basic process looks like this:
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Screening and intake Large screens remove sticks, fish, and trash at the intake.
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Coagulation and flocculation Staff add chemicals (often called “coagulants”) that help tiny particles stick together into larger clumps, known as “floc.”
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Sedimentation The floc settles to the bottom of big tanks, taking mud and some contaminants with it.
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Filtration Water passes through filters made of sand, gravel, and sometimes carbon. This step removes smaller particles, some metals, and organic matter that can react with disinfectants.
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Disinfection Chlorine or related disinfectants are added to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This protects public health, but it can also create disinfection byproducts when chlorine reacts with natural organic material in the water.
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Corrosion control To reduce corrosion of metal pipes and limit lead and copper from leaching into tap water, GLWA adds corrosion control chemicals such as orthophosphate. These help form a small protective layer inside pipes.
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Storage and distribution Treated water is stored in tanks and towers, then pumped through mains and into smaller neighborhood pipes and service lines until it reaches your home or business.
By the time water leaves the treatment plants, it meets strict federal and state standards for safe drinking water. Problems usually start after that point, in the maze of older pipes under streets and inside buildings.
Lead Pipes, Aging Infrastructure, and Home Plumbing Risks
Even the cleanest water can pick up contaminants along the way; aging pipes and home plumbing are the main sources of lead and other metals that affect your tap.
Scope of Detroit’s lead service line problem
Like many older U.S. cities, the city of Detroit’s water system still includes a large number of lead service lines. These are the small pipes that run from the water main under the street into each building.
Current estimates show about 77,197 lead service lines in Detroit. State and city rules now require that these lines be fully replaced, not just partially fixed. Michigan has one of the strictest Lead and Copper Rules in the country, which pushes cities to replace lead lines faster than past decades.
Thousands of lines are being replaced each year, but with tens of thousands left, the work will take years and cost hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars across the region. Until your own line is replaced, your home may still have a lead exposure risk even if system‑wide numbers look good.
How lead gets into Detroit tap water (and where it doesn’t)
The water leaving GLWA plants is essentially free of lead, because lead is not part of the source water at any meaningful level.
Lead shows up later because of:
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Lead service lines between the main and your house
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Old solder (the metal used to join copper pipes), especially before 1986
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Brass fixtures and faucets made before newer low‑lead rules
When water sits still in these pipes, corrosion can cause tiny pieces of lead to dissolve or break off into the water. That is why first‑draw samples (the first water out of the tap after sitting for several hours) often have the highest parts per billion readings.
Corrosion control chemicals reduce this, but they do not remove lead pipes. Also, partial replacements—where only part of a lead line is changed—can sometimes make corrosion worse for a time. So your home’s actual lead level can depend on plumbing details most people never see.
Detroit River Pollution, PFAS, and Industrial Contaminants
Beyond old pipes, external sources like industrial pollution and PFAS in the Detroit River can influence water quality, making monitoring and treatment crucial.
Major contaminants affecting the Detroit River
The Detroit River has a long industrial history. For decades, factories, refineries, and shipping all left behind a mix of pollutants such as:
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PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances), sometimes called “forever chemicals”
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Mercury, arsenic, and other metals
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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene
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Oil and grease
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Legacy industrial metals in sediments
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Bacteria and nutrients from combined sewer overflows and stormwater
Because of this mix, the river is listed as a “Area of Concern” (AOC) under U.S.–Canada cleanup programs. Michigan EGLE and the U.S. EPA work on sediment cleanup, tracking chemical plumes, and reducing new discharges.
BASF Wyandotte plume and other industrial hot spots
One often‑discussed recent example is the contaminated groundwater plume near Wyandotte, where a large chemical facility has left behind polluted soil and groundwater. Reports say about 60 gallons per minute of contaminated groundwater, with PFAS, mercury, arsenic, benzene, and very high pH water (strongly alkaline), is seeping into the Detroit River.
This type of site is a reason many residents worry about water problems in Detroit and nearby communities. Similar legacy sites, old landfills, and industrial dumps line parts of the river and its tributaries.
Regulators and the company are working on:
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Remedial investigations to map the plume
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Barriers and treatment systems to cut off or treat groundwater
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Long‑term monitoring to see if cleanup is working
Why officials say these discharges don’t “poison” Detroit tap water
If there are toxic chemicals going into the river, why do officials say Detroit’s water is still safe?
Several points help explain this:
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Distance and flow. Many industrial hot spots are miles from the main GLWA intakes, and the river is fast‑moving. Pollutants tend to mix, dilute, and move downstream.
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Treatment barriers. Modern water treatment plants can remove many metals, VOCs, and some PFAS compounds, especially when they use granular activated carbon and other advanced steps.
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Regulatory sampling. GLWA and EGLE collect samples near intakes to track key contaminants and watch for spikes.
On the other hand, there are limits:
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There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, but only some are currently regulated or routinely measured.
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Chemical mixtures may have combined effects that are hard to measure or predict with current science.
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Regulatory limits are often based on cancer and other health risks over a lifetime, not on zero exposure.
So while Detroit’s water usually meets legal standards, some residents choose extra protection, such as filters that target PFAS and lead, especially for infants or people with higher health risks.
What Independent Tests and Hydroviv‑Type Data Reveal
Official reports provide system-wide numbers, but independent testing shows what actually reaches your faucet, highlighting household-level variations and hidden risks.
Third-party testing results for Detroit tap water
Independent labs and consumer‑oriented water testing groups have published data on Detroit’s water quality. These tests usually confirm that:
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Lead is present at low but detectable levels at some taps, especially in older homes
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PFAS are present at very low levels or non‑detect in many samples but not zero everywhere
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Disinfection byproducts from chlorine are present within legal limits yet still measurable
These findings are consistent with the official city and state data: Detroit’s water is treated and legal at the plant, but local plumbing and long residence times in pipes can change what you actually drink.
Because independent tests usually involve small sample sizes, they cannot replace official system‑wide testing. But they are helpful to show what is possible at the household level and to support decisions about filters.
How Detroit drinking water compares to other U.S. cities
When you compare Detroit’s water quality to other big U.S. cities:
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Lead levels are better than some older cities that have failed action levels, but Detroit is still dealing with a large number of lead pipes, similar to many Midwestern cities.
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PFAS levels are generally similar to or lower than many urban systems, thanks in part to Great Lakes dilution and strong state rules.
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Disinfection byproducts are within typical U.S. ranges for systems using chlorine.
So Detroit is not at the bottom of the pack, but it also is not free from modern water problems. The mix is similar to what many large, older cities face: aging pipes plus new concern about long‑lasting chemicals.
When a home water filter is a smart idea in Detroit
You might wonder, “Do I really need a water filter if I live in Detroit?” There is no one answer, but certain situations make filtration a smart choice:
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Your home has, or likely has, a lead service line.
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Someone in your home is pregnant, a baby drinks formula, or there are young children.
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You live in an older building with unclear plumbing history.
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You often notice chlorine taste or odor, sediment, or brownish water after pipe work or hydrant flushing.
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You want to reduce PFAS, disinfection byproducts, or other trace chemicals even below legal levels.
In these cases, a certified faucet filter, under‑sink system, or RO system used for drinking and cooking water is a practical way to lower risk without relying only on bottled water.
Certifications and labels to trust on filters
When you choose a filter, pay close attention to independent certifications, not just marketing claims. Look for NSF/ANSI standards such as:
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NSF/ANSI 42 – for chlorine, taste, and odor
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NSF/ANSI 53 – for lead and many other health‑related contaminants
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NSF/ANSI 58 – for RO systems
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NSF/ANSI 401 – for some emerging contaminants, including certain pharmaceuticals
On the label, it should clearly say which standards the product is certified to, and for which contaminants. Phrases like “tested to” without listing a certifying body are much weaker. You can cross‑check claims on the NSF or WQA websites, or consult independent testing reviews from consumer organizations.
Water Treatment Options for Detroit Homes and Businesses
Once you understand the potential issues, the next step is knowing how to reduce them, whether through point-of-use filters, RO systems, or whole-house treatment solutions.
Point-of-use vs. whole-house systems: pros, cons, costs
For most people worried about lead, PFAS, or taste, treating just the water you drink and cook with is enough. This is called point‑of‑use (POU) treatment, such as a faucet filter, pitcher, or under‑sink RO system.
Whole‑house systems treat all water entering the building. They are more useful when you have:
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Major sediment or iron issues
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Very hard water that affects appliances
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Special process needs in a business or healthcare setting
A simple way to think about it:
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If your main concerns are lead, PFAS, and chlorine taste, choose a good POU system at the kitchen sink.
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If you are dealing with stained fixtures, scaling, or strong odors throughout the house, you may also consider whole‑house treatment with help from a qualified professional.
Best filter technologies for lead, PFAS, and taste/odor
Different problems need different tools:
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Lead Certified carbon block filters and some RO systems can reduce lead to very low levels. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 on the label and a clear claim for lead reduction.
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PFAS Activated carbon and RO membranes both help, but performance varies by product. Check whether the system is certified to reduce PFAS or lists specific PFAS compounds.
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Chlorine taste and odor Simple activated carbon filters and many pitchers can improve taste and smell by removing chlorine and some organic matter.
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Sediment and rust Basic sediment cartridges can protect appliances and prevent clogging, but they do not solve chemical issues.
Many homes in Detroit use a mix, such as a sediment prefilter plus a carbon block or RO system for the kitchen tap.
Commercial and industrial water treatment in Detroit
Businesses in Detroit face some of the same issues as homes, plus a few extras:
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Restaurants and cafés care about taste, odor, and scaling in ice machines and coffee makers.
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Offices may choose filtered coolers to cut bottled water costs while improving taste.
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Healthcare and labs may need ultra‑low mineral and contaminant levels, often using advanced RO systems and polishing steps.
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Manufacturing can require custom treatment to protect equipment or meet discharge permits.
If you manage a business, key questions for any treatment provider include:
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What contaminants or water quality issues will this system target?
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Which NSF/ANSI or other standards does it meet?
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How often are filters or membranes replaced, and who does it?
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How will the system affect water use, waste, and energy costs?
Practical Steps to Protect Your Household and Shape the Future
Simple daily habits, testing, and informed choices empower residents to safeguard water quality while supporting broader citywide efforts to improve Detroit’s water system.
Simple daily and weekly habits for safer drinking water
While you cannot control the entire water system, you can take small steps at home to reduce risk:
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Flush your taps. After water has been sitting in pipes for several hours (like overnight), run the cold water for 1–2 minutes before drinking or cooking, especially if you have older plumbing.
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Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water can leach more metals like lead from pipes.
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Clean faucet aerators. Tiny screens at the tip of faucets can trap particles, including bits of metal. Rinse them regularly.
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Watch for changes. Sudden changes in color, smell, or taste are signs to call DWSD and possibly test your water.
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Use filtered water for formula and drinking if you have a lead line or vulnerable family members.
Bottled water can be a short‑term solution in an emergency, but as a long‑term option it is expensive and adds plastic waste. A good filter at the tap is usually cheaper and more sustainable over time.
How to get your Detroit water tested (and read the results)
If you want a clear answer about conditions in your home, testing is the best tool.
You have a few options:
City or state programs. Detroit and Michigan often offer free or low‑cost lead testing for homes with young children or other risk factors. Check DWSD and EGLE websites or call their hotlines.
Certified private labs. You can pay a state‑certified lab to test for lead, copper, basic metals, and sometimes PFAS and disinfection byproducts. The lab will give you bottles, instructions, and a report.
What to test for. A basic panel usually includes:
- Lead and copper
- pH and hardness
- Sometimes coliform bacteria
A more comprehensive panel might include:
- Additional metals (including chromium)
- Nitrate/nitrite
- PFAS (if the lab offers it; this can be costly)
When you get your report, compare each number to the EPA MCLs or action levels shown on the sheet. Remember:
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For lead, the health goal is zero, especially for children, even though the legal action level is 15 ppb.
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If your lead result is above 1–5 ppb, it is wise to take it seriously and look at filters or plumbing changes, especially if you have or plan to have children in the home.
If the report is confusing, call the lab, your local health department, or DWSD. They can explain what each value and category means in plain language.
FAQs
1. Is it safe to drink water in Detroit?
Water in Detroit is generally considered safe to drink for most households. Treatment plants produce clean water that meets standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, some homes, especially those with older plumbing or lead service lines, may potentially have higher lead levels. Scientific monitoring and recent testing show that while the city complies with regulations, individual results can vary. Residents should take into account local conditions and follow simple precautions, such as flushing taps. The situation is different from Flint, but the impact of aging infrastructure and neighborhood differences can be significant.
2. Is the water quality in Detroit today?
Recent reports indicate that Detroit water quality remains within legal limits, with system-wide testing showing mostly clean water. The city’s monitoring programs account for contaminants like lead, copper, and disinfection byproducts. Some areas, specifically older neighborhoods, are more heavily affected by aging infrastructure. Scientific analyses suggest that while average levels are safe, tap water at individual homes may potentially contain elevated metals. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official channels. Unlike Flint, where the crisis was severe, Detroit’s water system generally maintains safety, but ongoing vigilance and environmental protection agency oversight are important.
3. Is there lead in Detroit water?
Lead in Detroit water is typically not present at the treatment plant but can appear in tap water from old pipes, solder, or fixtures. Houses with lead service lines are more heavily impacted. Scientific studies and recent testing reveal that levels vary, so potentially dangerous exposures can occur in certain homes. The Environmental Protection Agency and city monitoring programs account for lead, but the risk is higher for infants and children. Unlike Flint, where lead contamination became a crisis, Detroit’s system is largely compliant. Residents should associate lead risk with specific plumbing conditions and take precautions to ensure clean water at the tap.
4. Is it okay to drink water with lead in it?
Drinking water that contains lead, even at low levels, is potentially dangerous, especially for children and pregnant people. Scientific research shows no safe threshold for lead’s impact on development. Adults may tolerate small amounts, but long-term exposure can have serious health consequences. Residents of Detroit should specifically account for lead in older homes or motor districts with aging pipes. Using filters or flushing taps helps reduce risk. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines provide legal limits, but personal precautions are right to ensure safe, clean water. Unlike Flint, most Detroit homes have low lead levels, yet vigilance is still necessary.
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