Loading water data...
Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for DETROIT CITY OF • Updated September 2026
Grade A — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
DETROIT CITY OF has a clean recent record: no health-based violations in the last five years and no lead, PFAS or historical monitoring result that costs it more than a few points.
Yes — by EPA's records Detroit, MI tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on lead at 7.5 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Detroit, MI tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on lead at 7.5 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
DETROIT CITY OF's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 7.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 464 UCMR5 PFAS results for DETROIT CITY OF (2023-02-14 to 2023-11-07) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
DETROIT CITY OF has 1 violation on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
DETROIT CITY OF reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 633,218 people (EPA PWSID MI0001800).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Want to know what's really in your Detroit tap water?
Lead was found at 7.5 ppb (90th percentile) in Detroit's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
Tap Score certified lab · Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
DETROIT CITY OF · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to ReportConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2020-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2020-12-02 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by DETROIT CITY OF
Below the action level, but detectable. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes DETROIT CITY OF sampled had lead at or below 7.5 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 7.5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2024-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 12.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 9.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | 12.3 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2021-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 12.33 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 8.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2019-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | 9.81 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2015-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 4.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 2.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2009-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | 3.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2006-01-01 → 2008-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2003-01-01 → 2005-12-31 | 7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-02-14 to 2023-11-07 · 464 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 464 UCMR5 PFAS results for DETROIT CITY OF were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 16 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 16 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 16 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 16 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 16 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 16 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Detroit will follow up - no obligation.
DETROIT CITY OF · 251,531 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
DETROIT CITY OF reports 80,715 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (32% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 39,073 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID MI0001800 · See all Michigan lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Detroit homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Detroit faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Detroit households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Detroit residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 48201, 48202, 48203, 48204 +27 more). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Detroit yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Detroit ranks #2 of 3 graded Michigan cities.
See Detroit's EPA record — violations, lead and PFAS — side by side with another city, with a filter pick matched to the lower-scoring one.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Detroit's water, with removal options for each.
Yes — by EPA's records Detroit, MI tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on lead at 7.5 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
DETROIT CITY OF's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 7.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 464 UCMR5 PFAS results for DETROIT CITY OF (2023-02-14 to 2023-11-07) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
DETROIT CITY OF has 1 violation on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
DETROIT CITY OF reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 633,218 people (EPA PWSID MI0001800).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Lead was found at 7.5 ppb (90th percentile) in Detroit's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
Most Popular for Lead
Filters rated for lead reduction
Waterdrop lead collection · direct from the manufacturer
Waterdrop's lead collection — every filter here is selected for lead reduction, so you can compare options rated for this exact problem.
Shop Filters Rated for Lead →Or a specific pick on Amazon
ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher
NSF 53 certified to reduce lead & chromium — no installation, the easiest way to start protecting your water today.
Check Price on Amazon →Whole-Home Filtration System
Whole-house system — treats every tap at the source
For consistently poor water, a whole-home system filters every faucet, shower, and appliance — the permanent, install-once fix that goes beyond a single point-of-use filter.
Explore Whole-Home SystemsNot sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Detroit water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Detroit, MI.
Live EPA AirNow AQI, dominant pollutant and forecast.
Predicted indoor radon by ZIP vs. the EPA 4 pCi/L action level.
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.