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Is Livonia Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:47 pm, July 24, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Livonia?

Yes, Livonia's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Livonia has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Livonia's water utility, Livonia, had 3 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Livonia was resolved on Nov. 30, 2019. This assessment is based on the Livonia water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Livonia Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Livonia tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Livonia's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Livonia Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Livonia for Livonia in Michigan. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From Oct. 1, 2019 to Oct. 31, 2019, Livonia had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine (RTCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Revised Total Coliform Rule.

From Sept. 1, 2019 to Nov. 30, 2019, Livonia had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

For the compliance period beginning Dec. 30, 2017, Livonia had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Lead Consumer Notice which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Lead and Copper Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Lead and Copper Rule.

Is there Lead in Livonia Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Livonia water system, Livonia, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00692 mg/L of lead in Livonia water. This is 46.1% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Livonia contained more lead.

While Livonia water testing may have found 0.00692 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Livonia Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Detroit Arsenal - near Livonia with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Livonia has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

Livonia SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years

Compliance Period Status Health-Based? Category Code Code Rule Code Contaminant Code Rule Group Code Rule Family Code
10/01/2019 - 10/31/2019 Resolved No Monitoring Violation (MON) Monitoring, Routine (RTCR) (3A) Revised Total Coliform Rule (111) Revised Total Coliform Rule (8000) Microbials (100) Total Coliform Rules (110)
09/01/2019 - 11/30/2019 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) TTHM (2950) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220)
09/01/2019 - 11/30/2019 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220)
12/30/2017 - Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Lead Consumer Notice (66) Lead and Copper Rule (350) Lead and Copper Rule (5000) Chemicals (300) Lead and Copper Rule (350)

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
show details
Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Livonia Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW WILL I KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY WATER?
If the amount of a contaminant exceeds a predetermined safe level in your drinking water (MCL, Action Level, etc.) the City of Livonia Department of Public Works will notify you via newspapers, radio, TV and other means as soon as possible. With the notification, you will be instructed on what appropriate actions you can take to protect you and your family’s health. For information on the City of Livonia notifications via Nixle and social media sites go to the City’s website https://livonia.gov/1696/Social-Media.
HOW IS THE WATER TREATED?
The treatment plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with Chlorine to kill microorganisms that can cause illness. Next, a chemical called Alum is mixed with the water to remove the fine particles that make the water cloudy or turbid. Alum causes the particles to clump together and settle to the bottom. Fluoride is also added to protect our teeth from cavities and decay. The water then flows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove even more particles and certain microorganisms that are resistant to Chlorine. Finally, a small amount of Phosphoric Acid and Chlorine are added to the treated water just before it leaves the treatment plant. The Phosphoric Acid helps control any lead that may dissolve in water from household plumbing systems. The Chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through water mains to reach your homes. In addition to a carefully controlled and monitored treatment process, the water is tested for a variety of substances before treatment, during various stages of treatment and throughout the distribution system. Hundreds of samples are tested each week in the samples per month are taken from atory (40 GLWA’s certified labor various locations in the Livonia distribution system). In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
WHAT’S IN MY WATER?
The State and EPA require that water be tested on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We have met all monitoring and reporting requirements for 2020. We are also pleased to report that during the past year, the water delivered to your homes or businesses complied with, or did better than, all State and Federal drinking water requirements. For your information, we have compiled a list in the table below showing what substances were detected in our drinking water and the last year in which the test was conducted. Although all of the substances listed below are under the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by U.S. EPA, and therefore not expected to cause any health risks, we feel it is important that you know exactly what was detected and how much of each substance was present in the water. You can help reduce instances of low water pressure by following these voluntary guidelines: The amount of water that is used during summer peak demand hours is the one significant factor that can be controlled by Livonia water customers. You can help minimize annual rate increases by managing water purchases during peak summer demand hours. For information about this report, or for questions relating to your drinking water, please contact Tom Wilson, Water Supervisor of Public Works at twilson@ci.livonia.mi.us or (734) 466-2632. Information regarding water treatment and regulations is available at the USEPA web site at www.epa.gov, or by calling their Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800- 426-4791.
HOW DO I CONTACT LIVONIA CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Livonia water provider, Livonia, please use the information below.
By Mail: 12973 Farmington Road
LIVONIA, MI, 48150
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR LIVONIA
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Livonia account to pay their Livonia water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Livonia bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Livonia water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Livonia water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP LIVONIA WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Livonia means you will often need to put the water in your name with Livonia. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Livonia means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Livonia. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

Is Livonia Tap Water Safe to Drink? Tap water & safety quality

The estimated price of bottled water

$1 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Livonia tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 1% Very Low
  • Water Pollution 25% Low
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 99% Very High
  • Water Quality 75% High

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Livonia, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Livonia Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Livonia's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

City of Livonia

Dear Water Customer,

I am happy to report that the City of Livonia Calendar Year 2020 Water Quality Report shows, once again, that Livonia’s drinking water has met or exceeded all government standards set for water quality and safety.

We are proud of that.

This report was developed to bring you important information about your drinking water, in compliance with Federal requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Knowledge is power, and this document was designed to bring you the knowledge you need about the water you drink every day. You will learn about the quality of your water, the source of your drinking water, how we manage risks to our water supply, and the water treatment process. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (formerly the Department of Environmental Quality), is responsible for overseeing the operation of municipal water systems.

At the same time, Livonia employees work hard every day to continue delivering the safest and highest quality water to all our customers, in conjunction with our supplier, the Great Lakes Water Authority.

Thank you for reading this report. If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Wilson, Water Supervisor of Public Works, at (734) 466-2632.

Sincerely,

Mayor, City of Livonia

Safe Drinking Water Act

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is responsible for setting national limits for hundreds of substances in drinking water and also specified various treatments that water systems must use to remove these substances. Similarly, Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Each agency continually monitors for these substances and reports directly to the USEPA if they were detected in the drinking water. USEPA uses this data to ensure that consumers are receiving clean water and verify that states are enforcing the laws that regulate drinking water.

How Will I Know If There Is A Problem With My Water?

If the amount of a contaminant exceeds a predetermined safe level in your drinking water (MCL, Action Level, etc.) the City of Livonia Department of Public Works will notify you via newspapers, radio, TV and other means as soon as possible. With the notification, you will be instructed on what appropriate actions you can take to protect you and your family’s health. For information on the City of Livonia notifications via Nixle and social media sites go to the City’s website

https://livonia.gov/1696/Social-Media.

City of Livonia

Substances Expected To Be In Drinking Water

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800-426-4791). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
  • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
  • Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
  • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
  • Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

People With Special Health Concerns

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Naturally Occurring Bacteria

The simple fact is, bacteria and other microorganisms inhabit our world. They can be found all around us; in our food; on our skin; in our bodies; and in the air, soil and water. Some are harmful to us and some are not. Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful themselves. The presence of this bacterial form in drinking water is a concern because they indicate that the water may be contaminated with other organisms that can cause disease. Throughout 2020, the City of Livonia tested 480w samples (40 samples every month) for coliform bacteria. In the entire year, there were no samples found to contain these nuisance bacteria.

City of Livonia

Cryptosporidium

GLWA voluntarily monitors our source water for the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. In 2020, the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were detected in the source water at the Belle Isle Detroit River Intake serving Water Works Park, Springwells and the Northeast treatment plants. Cryptosporidium was detected once in March and Giardia once in April. All other samples monitored in 2020 were absent for the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Current test methods do not enable us to determine if these organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals are able to overcome the disease within a few weeks. However, immuno-compromised people have more difficulty and are at greater risk of developing sever, life threatening illness. Immuno-compromised individuals are encouraged to consult their doctor regarding appropriate precautions to take to prevent infection. Cryptosporidium must be ingested for it to cause disease and may be passed through other means than drinking water. Surface water treatment systems like GLWA must provide treatment so that 99.9% Giardia is removed or inactivated.

LEAD

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Livonia is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you have a lead service line it is recommended that you run your water for at least 5 minutes to flush water from both your home plumbing and the lead service line. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/drink/info/lead. Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Drinking water quality is important to our community and the region. The City of Livonia and the GLWA are committed to meeting state and federal water quality standards including the Lead and Copper Rule. With the Great Lakes as our water source and proven treatment technologies, the GLWA consistently delivers safe drinking water to our community. The City of Livonia operates the system of water mains that carry this water to your home’s service line. This year’s Water Quality Report highlights the performance of the GLWA and City of Livonia water professionals in delivering some of the nation’s best drinking water. Together, we remain committed to protecting public health and maintaining open communication with the public about our drinking water.

The City of Livonia is in the process of performing a material inventory of water service lines. A service line includes any section of pipe, both public and private, from the water main to the building plumbing at the water meter or 18 inches inside the building, whichever is shorter. The City did not historically record the materials used on the privately-owned pipe segments of service lines. The process of collecting data to update the service line material inventory is ongoing.

Water Service Line Inventory Status 2020

Lead Service Lines

Lines of Unknown Material

Total Number of Service Lines

106

25,060

38,526

City of Livonia

Information on Source Water

Your source water comes from the Detroit River, situated within the Lake St. Clair, Clinton River, Detroit River, Rouge River, Ecorse River, in the U.S. and parts of the Thames River, Little River, Turkey Creek and Sydenham watersheds in Canada. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), and the Michigan Public Health Institute performed a source water assessment in 2004 to determine the susceptibility of potential contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a seven-tiered scale from very low to very high based primarily on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry, and contaminant sources.

The susceptibility of our Detroit River source water intakes were determined to be highly susceptible to potential contamination. However, all four Detroit water treatment plants that use source water from the Detroit River have historically provided satisfactory treatment of this source water to meet drinking water standards.

GLWA has initiated source-water protection activities that include chemical containment, spill response, and a mercury reduction program. GLWA participates in a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination system permit discharge program and has an emergency response management plan.

In 2016, the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy approved GLWA’s Surface Water Intake Protection plan for the Belle Isle intake. The plan has seven elements that include: roles and duties of government units and water supply agencies, delineation of a source water protection areas, identification of potential sources of contamination, management approaches for protection, contingency plans, siting of new water sources, public participation and public education activities. GLWA is in the process of updating the plan which should be completed by September 2021. If you would like to know more information about the Source Water Assessment Report please, contact GLWA at (313 926-8102).

How is The Water Treated?

The treatment plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with Chlorine to kill microorganisms that can cause illness. Next, a chemical called Alum is mixed with the water to remove the fine particles that make the water cloudy or turbid. Alum causes the particles to clump together and settle to the bottom. Fluoride is also added to protect our teeth from cavities and decay. The water then flows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove even more particles and certain microorganisms that are resistant to Chlorine. Finally, a small amount of Phosphoric Acid and Chlorine are added to the treated water just before it leaves the treatment plant. The Phosphoric Acid helps control any lead that may dissolve in water from household plumbing systems. The Chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through water mains to reach your homes. In addition to a carefully controlled and monitored treatment process, the water is tested for a variety of substances before treatment, during various stages of treatment and throughout the distribution system. Hundreds of samples are tested each week in the samples per month are taken from atory (40 GLWA’s certified labor various locations in the Livonia distribution system). In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

City of Livonia

What’s In My Water?

The State and EPA require that water be tested on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We have met all monitoring and reporting requirements for 2020. We are also pleased to report that during the past year, the water delivered to your homes or businesses complied with, or did better than, all State and Federal drinking water requirements. For your information, we have compiled a list in the table below showing what substances were detected in our drinking water and the last year in which the test was conducted. Although all of the substances listed below are under the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by U.S. EPA, and therefore not expected to cause any health risks, we feel it is important that you know exactly what was detected and how much of each substance was present in the water.

Outdoor Water Use Guidelines

You can help reduce instances of low water pressure by following these voluntary guidelines:

  • Program automatic sprinkler systems to water between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am.
  • Avoid outdoor water use altogether between the hours of 5:00am –9:00am and 5:00pm-9:00pm

The amount of water that is used during summer peak demand hours is the one significant factor that can be controlled by Livonia water customers. You can help minimize annual rate increases by managing water purchases during peak summer demand hours.

Interesting Facts According to the EPA:

  • The average garden hose dispenses 4 gallons a minute, or 240 gallons an hour.
  • Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home.
  • It takes 70 gallons of water to fill an average bathtub.
  • The average family can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons of water annually just from household leaks.
  • A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year alone.

For More Information

For information about this report, or for questions relating to your drinking water, please contact Tom Wilson, Water Supervisor of Public Works at twilson@ci.livonia.mi.us or (734) 466-2632. Information regarding water treatment and regulations is available at the USEPA web site at www.epa.gov, or by calling their Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800- 426-4791.

City of Livonia

2020 Springwells Regulated Detected Contaminants Table

2020 Inorganic Chemicals - Annual Monitoring at Plant Finished Tap

Regulated

Test

 

Health

Allowed

Highest

Range of

 

 

Unit

Goal

Level

 

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

 

Level

 

Contaminant

Date

 

 

Detection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MCLG

MCL

Detected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposit; Water

Fluoride

3-10-2020

ppm

4

4

0.63

n/a

no

additive, which promotes strong teeth;

Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

factories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching

Nitrate

3-10-2020

ppm

10

10

0.37

n/a

no

from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge

Barium

5-16-2017

ppm

2

2

0.01

n/a

no

from metal refineries; Erosion of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Disinfection Residual - Monitoring in the Distribution System

Regulated

Contaminant

Test

Date

Unit

Health

Allowed Highest

Range of

Goal

Level

Level

Quarterly Violation

 

 

MRDLG

MRDL

RAA

Results

 

 

 

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Total Chlorine Residual

2020

ppm

4

4

0.70

0.60-0.79

no

Water additive used to control microbes

2020 Disinfection By-Products - Stage 2 Disinfection By-Products Monitoring in the Distribution System

 

Test

 

Health

Allowed

Highest

Range of

 

 

Regulated

Unit

Goal

Level

Level

Quarterly

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Date

 

 

Contaminant

 

 

 

 

MCLG

MCL

LRAA

Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(TTHM)

2020

ppb

n/a

80

38.0

15-56

no

By-product of drinking water chlorination

Total Trihalomethanes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(HAA5)

2020

ppb

n/a

60

22.25

<1 -31

no

By-product of drinking water chlorination

Haloacetic Acids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Livonia

2020 Turbidity - Monitored Every 4 Hours at the Plant Finished Water Tap

Highest Single

Lowest Monthly % of Samples Meeting

 

 

Measurement Cannot

Violation

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Turbidity Limit of 0.3 NTU (minimum 95%)

Exceed 1 NTU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.21 NTU

100%

no

Soil Runoff

 

 

 

 

Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Regulated Contaminant

Treatment Technique

Typical Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal ratio is calculated as

 

Total Organic Carbon ppm

the ratio between the actual TOC removal and the TOC removal

Erosion of natural deposits

requirements. The TOC is measured each quarter and because

 

 

 

the level is low, there is no requirement for TOC removal.

 

 

 

 

Lead and Copper Monitoring at the Customer’s Tap in 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range of

Violation

 

Regulated

 

 

Health

Action

90th

Number

Individual

 

 

Test

 

of

 

 

 

Unit

Goal

Level

Percentile

 

 

Major Sources in Drinking Water

Contaminant

Date

 

 

Samples

Samples

 

 

MCLG

AL

Value*

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over AL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

ppb

0

15

10

1

0-19

no

Lead services lines, corrosion of

Lead

household, plumbing including fittings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and fixtures; erosion of natural deposits”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrosion of household plumbing

Copper

2020

ppm

1.3

1.3

0.1

0

0-0.3

no

system; Erosion of natural deposits;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

leaching from wood preservatives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* The 90th percentile value means 90 percent of the homes tested have lead and copper levels below the given 90th percentile value. If the 90th percentile value is above the AL additional requirements must be met.

2020 Special Monitoring

Contaminant

Test Date

Unit

MCLG

MCL

Highest Level Detected

Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sodium

3-10-2020

ppm

n/a

n/a

5.37

Erosion of natural deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These tables are based on tests conducted by GLWA in the year 2020 or the most recent testing done within the last five calendar years. GLWA conducts tests throughout the year only tests that show the presence of a substance or require special monitoring are presented in these tables. The State allows us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. All of the data is representative of the water quality, but some are more than one year old.

City of Livonia

2020 Springwells Mineral Analysis

Parameter

Units

Max.

Min.

Avg.

 

 

 

 

 

Turbidity

NTU

0.19

0.03

0.08

 

 

 

 

 

Total Solids

ppm

165

76

136

 

 

 

 

 

Total Dissolved Solids

ppm

140

98

121

 

 

 

 

 

Aluminum

ppm

0.106

0.014

0.045

 

 

 

 

 

Iron

ppm

0.177

ND

0.110

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

ppm

0.008

ND

0.001

 

 

 

 

 

Magnesium

ppm

7.82

5.93

7.32

 

 

 

 

 

Calcium

ppm

31.2

23.5

27.3

 

 

 

 

 

Sodium

ppm

5.94

4.51

5.01

 

 

 

 

 

Potassium

ppm

1.06

0.89

0.98

 

 

 

 

 

Manganese

ppm

ND

ND

ND

 

 

 

 

 

Lead

ppm

ND

ND

ND

 

 

 

 

 

Zinc

ppm

ND

ND

ND

 

 

 

 

 

Silica

ppm

2.4

ND

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

Sulfate

ppm

31.8

21.9

25.9

 

 

 

 

 

Chloride

ppm

11.6

8.5

9.8

 

 

 

 

 

Phosphorus

ppm

1.17

0.16

0.53

 

 

 

 

 

Free Carbon Dioxide

ppm

10.4

5.7

7.4

 

 

 

 

 

Total Hardness

ppm

108

98

102

 

 

 

 

 

Total Alkalinity

ppm

74

66

70

 

 

 

 

 

Carbonate Alkalinity

ppm

ND

ND

ND

 

 

 

 

 

Bi-Carbonate Alkalinity

ppm

74

66

70

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Carbonate Hardness

ppm

39

26

32

 

 

 

 

 

Chemical Oxygen Demand

ppm

13.5

ND

2.8

 

 

 

 

 

Dissolved Oxygen

ppm

13.8

8.8

11.1

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrite Nitrogen

ppm

ND

ND

ND

 

 

 

 

 

Fluoride

ppm

0.77

0.49

0.62

 

 

 

 

 

pH

 

7.41

7.12

7.29

 

 

 

 

 

Specific Conductance @ 25 °C.

µohms

243

213

224

 

 

 

 

 

Temperature

°C

24.6

3.5

13.4

 

 

 

 

 

City of Livonia

Key to the Detected Contaminants Table

Symbol

Abbreviation

Definition/Explanation

 

 

 

AL

Action Level

The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment

 

 

or other requirements which a water system must follow.

 

 

 

°C

Celsius

A scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under

 

 

standard conditions.

>

Greater than

 

HAA5

Haloacetic Acids

HAA5 is the total of bromoacetic, chloroacetic, di-bromoacetic,

 

 

dichloroacetic, and trichloroacetic acids. Compliance is based on the total.

Level 1

Level 1 Assessment

A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential

 

 

problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been

 

 

found in our system.

LRAA

Locational Running Annual Average

The average of analytical results for samples at a particular monitoring

 

 

location during the previous four quarters.

MCL

Maximum Contaminant Level

The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs

 

 

are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment

 

 

technology.

MCLG

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal

The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known

 

 

or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow a margin of safety.

MRDL

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level

The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is

 

 

convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control

 

 

of microbial contaminants.

MRDLG

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level

The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or

 

Goal

expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of

 

 

disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

 

 

 

n/a

not applicable

 

ND

Not Detected

 

NTU

Nephelometric Turbidity Units

Measures the cloudiness of water.

pCi/L

Picocuries Per Liter

A measure of radioactivity

ppb

Parts Per Billion (one in one billion)

The ppb is equivalent to micrograms per liter.

 

 

A microgram = 1/1000 milligram.

ppm

Parts Per Million (one in one million)

The ppm is equivalent to milligrams per liter.

 

 

A milligram = 1/1000 gram.

RAA

Running Annual Average

The average of all analytical results for all samples during the previous four

 

 

quarters.

SMCL

Secondary Maximum Contaminant

 

 

Level

 

TT

Treatment Technique

A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking

 

 

water.

TTHM

Total Trihalomethanes

Total Trihalomethanes is the sum of chloroform, bromodichloromethane,

 

 

dibromochloromethane and bromoform. Compliance is based on the total.

μohms

Microohms

Measure of electrical conductance of water

 

 

 

Contaminants


Livonia

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility details

  • Serves: 96942
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Purchased surface water
  • Total: 5

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Strontium
  • Vanadium

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

Water Source

The city’s source of water comes from the Detroit River, situated within the Lake St. Clair, Clinton River, Detroit River, Rogue River, Ecorse River, in the U.S., and parts of the Thames River, Little River, Turkey Creek, and Sydenham watersheds in Canada. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), and the Michigan Public Health Institute, performed a source water assessment in 2004 to determine the susceptibility of potential contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a seven-tiered scale from very low to very high based primarily on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry, and contaminant sources. 

The susceptibility of our Detroit River source water intakes was determined to be highly susceptible to potential contamination. However, all four Detroit water treatment plants that use source water from the Detroit River have historically provided satisfactory treatment of this source water to meet drinking water standards.

How is water treated?

The treatment plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The treatment process begins with disinfecting the source water with Chlorine to kill microorganisms that can cause illness. Next, a chemical called Alum is mixed with the water to remove the fine particles that make the water cloudy or turbid. Alum causes the particles to clump together and settle to the bottom. Fluoride is also added to protect our teeth from cavities and decay. The water then flows through fine sand filters called beds. These filters remove even more particles and certain microorganisms resistant to Chlorine. Finally, a small amount of Phosphoric Acid and Chlorine is added to the treated water just before it leaves the treatment plant. 

Phosphoric Acid helps control any lead that may dissolve in water from household plumbing systems. Chlorine keeps the water disinfected as it travels through water mains to reach your homes. 

In addition to a carefully controlled and monitored treatment process, the water is tested for various substances before, during multiple treatment stages, and throughout the distribution system. Hundreds of samples are tested each week per month are taken from atory (40 GLWA’s certified labor various locations in the Livonia distribution system). To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations limiting the number of specific contaminants in water provided by public water systems. 

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