Burton Residents Receive Notice of Water Treatment Issue
Public notice explains water system treatment violation and what residents should know
BURTON, Mich. — The City of Burton is notifying residents that its public water system failed to meet state treatment requirements during part of the first half of 2026, but officials say there is no need to boil water or take other immediate action.
According to a public notice from the Burton Department of Public Works, the city did not maintain required water treatment parameters within state-designated ranges for more than nine days during the January through June 2026 monitoring period. The treatment requirements are designed to control corrosion and prevent lead and copper from leaching into drinking water from household plumbing.
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The city purchases its water from the Karegnondi Water Authority and the Genesee County Water System, which treats the water to reduce corrosion. Burton is responsible for monitoring water quality in its distribution system, including pH and orthophosphate levels, to ensure corrosion control remains effective.
Despite the treatment violation, the notice states that recent testing found lead and copper levels were below federal action levels in at least 90% of residential drinking water taps that were sampled.
“This situation does not require you to take immediate action,” the notice states. “If it had, you would have been notified immediately.”
City officials said the violation stemmed from pH levels falling below the required minimum after the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy established water quality parameter ranges. Officials said they are working to ensure all water quality results remain within required limits to prevent the issue from happening again.
The notice advises residents with specific health concerns to consult their physician.
The city also reminded residents that exposure to lead in drinking water can pose serious health risks, particularly for infants, children and pregnant women, even though current testing indicates lead and copper levels remain below action thresholds.
Residents with questions are encouraged to contact the Burton Department of Public Works.