INKSTER, Mich. (WXYZ-TV) — Stricter state testing standards for drinking water has landed Inkster on a list of cities in metro Detroit with higher than acceptable levels of lead. Other cities with elevated lead or copper levels include: Garden City, Oak Park, Highland Park, Harper Woods, White Lake, Dearborn Heights and Melvindale.
“When I heard about Dearborn Heights and Garden City, I’m like okay, that’s really close to home," said Lakeesha Anderson. "And then when someone posted Inkster has it too I’m like oh my gosh, I’ve been living in Inkster since ’92."
Anderson lives in Inkster with her daughter and her fiance. She's also expecting her second child.
The home she rents she believes was built sometime around the 1950s, when copper and lead water service lines were more commonly used. Until she has her home's water tested, she's taking extra precautions like using bottled water for cooking and even brushing her teeth.
LEAD LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER: A recent state test found 4 homes in Inkster have higher than the acceptable levels of lead in the water. Lakeesha Anderson is expecting her second child, and worried her home could also be affected @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/u114LEHkaI
— Jenn Schanz (@JennSchanzWXYZ) October 25, 2019
Out of 30 homes in Inkster tested by the state in September, four of them showed higher than the acceptable levels of lead in the drinking water.
Inkster's Mayor Byron Nolen said in a Facebook post that while most of the homes in Inkster were built after 1950 and not likely to still have lead or copper service lines, there are approximately 400 homes that still could. The city is working on a plan to have those pipes replaced.
“It’s about the kids and the senior citizens," said Julia Lowe, who lives on Longfellow in Inkster.
The city of Inkster will be providing water filters to residents who want them between 2 and 6 p.m. at the Dozier Rec. Center on Monday Oct. 28, Tuesday Oct. 29, and Wednesday Oct. 30.
