BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - The city of Battle Creek has lifted its drink water advisory after they warned residents on Thursday that infants should not drink the tap water due to elevated levels of manganese.
Now, the city's tap water is safe to drink for children and adults of all ages.
On Saturday, the city said that after they tested 52 water samples across the water system, the Calhoun County Public Health Department and the MDEQ approved lifting the advisory.
The test results showed that all but four of the samples tested at levels below the EPA's health standard for manganese. The four elevated results were from the city's Verona Pumping Station, but none of those wells are directly feeding into Battle Creek's water distribution system.
The city is now working with the MDEQ to filter the manganese at the plant, and there will be further testing.
From Thursday through Saturday, the city manager said that they gave water to more than 3,500 families totaling over 6,700 cases of water.
"All water distribution sites are not closed," said Rebecca Fleury, Battle Creek's city manager.
Officials were alerted to the problem when they found elevated levels of manganese in samples taken from fire hydrants in Battle Creek and Springfield. Manganese is a natural occurring element that is found in the air, soil and water, but it can be dangerous in high concentrations, especially for infants and those with liver conditions.
While the city was assessing the problem, they were giving away cases of water to those affected by the advisory.
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