The city of Clare is distributing free water filters for residents Monday Sept. 30, after recent water testing found high levels of lead. Two of six samples collected from downtown businesses were above the action level recommended by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

The city distributed 165 water filters on Friday, and is doing so Monday from 1:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m, at the Pere Marquette District Library, or until supplies last. Residents must bring a driver’s license or state ID card to receive a free filter. The Central Michigan District Health Department will also be offering blood lead screening at the same location, for children, ages 1 month to 6 years old, who live in a home connected to the City of Clare water supply.

City residents may be eligible for a free filter if they meet all of the following:
 The household is connected to the City of Clare water and has not previously received a water filter from
the city, the state, or the local health department and
 A child under the age of 18 is currently living in the home, OR a child under the age of 18 spends a few
hours a day and several days a week at this address for at least 3 months of the year OR a pregnant
woman lives in the home and
 A member of the household receives WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) benefits, Medicaid Insurance
or otherwise is unable to afford a water filter
City residents who are not eligible to receive a free water filter can learn more about lead in drinking water,
or selecting the right filter for their home, by visiting www.cmdhd.org/lead.

City of Clare customers are reminded to take the following precautionary actions to reduce the amount of
lead in their water:
 Use a water filter certified to remove lead from the water. Read the package to be sure it is certified to
NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also recommends
that the filter be certified for NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction (Class 1). (filters cost about
$35 and replacement cartridges cost about $15)
 Residents who do not have a filter and have not used their water for six hours or more should flush their
pipes to reduce the amount of lead in their drinking water. Pipes can be flushed by running faucets,
taking a shower, running a load of laundry or washing dishes for at least five minutes. Before using the
water from faucet used for drinking or cooking run the water again until it goes from room temperature
to cold. This flushes out any water that been sitting in the sink’s pipes and faucet.
 Use cold tap water for drinking and cooking.
 Use bottled water for preparing baby formula or use Ready-to-Feed formula.
 Do not boil your water to remove lead. Boiling water will increase the amount of lead in the water that’s
left.
 Clean faucets’ aerators or screens at least every six months. For more information on how to clean your
aerator, visit www.cmdhd.org/lead.

City residents who are not eligible to receive a free water filter can learn more about lead in drinking water, or selecting the right filter for their home, by visiting www.cmdhd.org/lead.

City of Clare residents who have questions about water testing can call (989) 424-4071 or visit
www.cityofclare.org.