The State of Michigan's 2018 revision to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) created both state-level and utility-level water advisory councils. Water suppliers and water systems with more than 50,000 customers will each be required to create a Community Water Advisory Council. The advisory council will advise the utility on communications related to lead in drinking water as well as other drinking water quality issues (see Appendix A of the Meeting Guidance Document for the Community Water Advisory Council section of the law). Specifically, the advisory council is mandated to:
- Develop plans for continuing public awareness about lead in drinking water, even when a lead action level is not exceeded;
- Review public awareness campaign materials provided by the statewide Drinking Water Advisory Council to ensure the needs and interests of the community, with consideration to the economic and cultural diversity of its residents, are addressed;
- Advise and consult with the water supply on the development of appropriate plans for remediation and public education to be implemented if a lead action level is exceeded;
- Advise and consult with the water supply on efforts to replace private lead service lines at locations where the owner declined service line replacement;
- Assist in promoting transparency of all data and documents related to lead in drinking water within the water supply service area; and
- Collaborate with local community groups to ensure that residents have the opportunity to be involved in efforts to educate the community about lead in drinking water.