(THREE RIVERS) – Three Rivers residents are concerned about the high levels of lead that has been found in many homes around the city.

According to WWMT, a community open house was held Monday where citizens told about how the lead has affected their lives, and the face that they feel no one is listening to them.

In August, the City of Three Rivers and the Community Health Agency announced they were working together to help city residents.

Three Rivers Public Services Director Amy Roth says the City has been conducting testing of tap water in homes for lead and copper, in accordance with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. Roth says at that time, they found more lead service lines and after collecting water samples from 47 homes, six had results with lead level results over 15 parts per billion.

This resulted in the issuance of an “Action Level Exceedance” for the City of Three Rivers. It has also triggered additional actions including educational outreach to customers; ongoing sampling every six months, assessing the corrosivity of the water, and service line replacement.

Roth says recent testing of the Three Rivers’ wells did not detect lead or copper in the water. That means the majority of the City’s drinking water system is lead free, and the issue is when the water comes into homes and businesses through lead pipes.

Two members of the Three Rivers City Commission were at Monday’s meeting. They say they are reaching out to officials in Lansing to get more funding to help with the situation.

The CHA is distributing filters from 8 AM until 4 PM at their Three Rivers location, 1110 Hill Street. The City is also distributing filters at the Department of Public Services, 1015 South Lincoln Avenue.

To get a filter at either location, you must show a driver’s license or photo ID to confirm you live in the City. If you don’t have a driver’s license or photo ID, you can bring a copy of your water bill. Filters will be distributed one per household.