Lead line replacements continue in St. Clair Shores

C&G News
Kristyne E. Demske

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ST. CLAIR SHORES — Despite the fact that the state only ordered St. Clair Shores to replace 7% of the original 656 residences thought to have lead service lines per year in 2019, the city has replaced more than 400 since that time, mostly in 2021.

“There still are a number, probably a few hundred homes, that we still want to verify just to make sure that they’re not lead,” said Department of Public Works Director Bryan Babcock. “We want to make sure that we’re getting all the lead out.”

The city first determined that about 2.5% of its service lines might contain lead when testing showed elevated lead levels in 2019. St. Clair Shores city officials were able to make contact with the owners of 408 homes, where the lead service lines have now been replaced. Babcock said there are still about 55 homes that they believe to have lead or galvanized service lines that need to be replaced, and the department has made appointments for the city’s contractor to come in and replace about half of those.