Lead Testing

Public Advisory for Drinking Water Customers in the City of Royal Oak 

Please take the time to read Royal Oak’s public advisory and review the resources on this page carefully. It will provide context and understanding concerning Royal Oak’s test results as it relates to lead levels in the water. It will also outline actions that you can take as well as steps the city will be taking. You will also find links to a number of resources from the State of Michigan, Oakland County and other sources.  

Public Advisory for Drinking Water Customers in the City of Royal Oak

City of Royal Oak Press Release

Determine if You Have a Lead Water Service Line

Royal Oak Schools Issues Statement

Sources of Lead in Drinking Water

Concerned about lead in your water? Here are the common sources of lead in your drinking water:

1. Faucets: Fixtures and fittings inside your home contain varying lead content depending on the age of the fixture.

2. Copper Pipe with Lead Solder: Solder made or installed before 1969 contained high lead levels.

3. Galvanized Pipe: Lead particles can attach to the surface of galvanized pipe and service lines. Over time, the particles can enter your drinking water, causing elevated lead levels.

4. Lead Service Line: A service line is a piece of pipe that connects and delivers water from the city’s water main under the street to your home. In older homes (typically those built before the 1950s) this connection can be a lead pipe. If you have a service line that is made of lead, you have an increased risk of having elevated levels of lead in your drinking water. The decision to use a lead pipe at the time the house was constructed was based on the plumber’s decision of that time. It was not based on the location or district that the home was in. National Public Radio (NPR) has developed a website that allows you to determine whether your drinking water is at risk in a few simple steps. Click here to go the NPR site.

5. Lead Goosenecks: Goosenecks and pigtails are shorter lead pipes that connect the lead, copper or galvanized service lines to the water main.

  1. How does lead get into tap water?
  2. How can I protect myself from lead in water?
  3. Is there a simple way to see if I have lead service line in my home?
  4. What are health concerns from lead exposure?
  5. What is the city doing about this issue?
  6. Where can I get my water tested?
  7. What educational resources are available?
  8. What does this “Action Level” exceedance and advisory mean?
  9. Where can I get information to better understand drinking water filters?
  10. Can you explain how to use a PUR faucet filter that is certified to reduce lead in drinking water?
  11. I've heard my drinking water faucet has an aerator. What is it?
  12. Can my home be part of the community-wide sampling plan?
  13. Who do I contact for more information?
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