Lead Service Line Inventory: City of Saginaw Water System

What you need to know

The City of Saginaw serves about 44,000 people in Michigan. Like many older water systems across the US, the city may have lead service lines—the pipes that carry water from the main line under the street into homes. Lead service lines are a known source of lead in drinking water, especially in homes built before the 1980s.

The current status: The City of Saginaw has not yet completed a full inventory of lead service lines in its system. This means the utility is still in the process of identifying which properties have lead pipes, or has not yet published this data publicly.

Why this matters

Lead can leach into drinking water, particularly from older pipes or when water sits in pipes overnight. Even small amounts of lead exposure over time can be a concern, especially for young children and pregnant people. If you live in an older home or rental property in Saginaw, there's a reasonable chance your service line could be lead—but the only way to know for certain is to contact your utility or have it tested.

What you can do now

• Contact the City of Saginaw water utility to ask:

- Whether your specific address has a known lead service line - What year your home was built (homes built before 1986 are higher risk) - If they have partial data available, even if a full inventory isn't published yet

• Get your water tested at home. The EPA recommends testing through a certified lab, especially if you have young children in the home. Your utility can recommend local labs.

• Use a certified lead-reducing filter on your drinking and cooking water in the meantime. NSF/ANSI Standard 53 filters are designed to reduce lead.

• Flush your taps before drinking if water has been sitting in pipes for more than 6 hours, and always use cold water for drinking and cooking (hot water leaches lead faster).

Next steps for residents

• Call the City of Saginaw Water Department to ask about your property's service line status
• Request or download any available lead service line data from your utility (ask if it's online, even if not complete)
• Have your water tested if you have children under 6 or are pregnant
• Learn more from the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule page and CDC guidance on lead in water

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```json [ { "q": "Does Saginaw have lead in the water?", "a": "Lead in Saginaw's water comes from lead service lines (pipes) and household plumbing, not the source water itself. The City of Saginaw has not yet completed a full inventory of lead service lines. Homes built before the 1980s are at higher risk." }, { "q": "How do I know if my house has a lead service line?", "a": "Contact the City of Saginaw Water Department with your address—they can tell you if your line is known to be lead, or whether it's documented in their records. You can also hire a plumber to inspect your line, or request testing from your utility." }, { "q": "Is lead in Saginaw tap water safe for babies and kids?", "a": "Lead exposure is a health concern for young children. If you have children under 6 in your home, test your water and use a lead-reducing filter on drinking and cooking water. Call your pediatrician or the CDC with specific health questions." }, { "q": "What should I do if I'm worried about lead in my Saginaw water right now?", "a": "Use a certified NSF/ANSI 53