Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 9
PUBLIC ADVISORY FOR DRINKING WATER CUSTOMERS IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE In recent testing, some homes in Eastpointe exceeded the Action Level of 15 parts per billion of lead in their water. The “Action Level” is not a health-based standard, but it is a level that triggers additional actions including, but not limited to, increased investigative sampling of water quality and educational outreach to customers in accordance with the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. The goal for lead in drinking water is 0 ppb; there is no safe level of lead in the blood. While the results of the September 2022 samplings are site-specific, not every home was tested, and lead levels can vary between homes. Therefore, every customer should be aware of possible sources of lead, how it gets into drinking water, and things you can do to reduce exposure. The City of Eastpointe has contacted the homeowners with elevated lead levels and provided them with their sampling results and faucet filters. The City will also provide initial complimentary faucet filters to any water customer verified to have lead service lines in their home. How to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water: - Run your water to flush out lead-containing water. If you do not have a lead service line, run the water for 30 seconds to two minutes, or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature. If you do have a lead service line, run the water for at least five minutes to flush water from your home or building’s plumbing and the lead service line. Consider using a filter to reduce lead in drinking water. Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction (Class I).
- For filters to work properly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not use hot water for drinking, preparing food, or cooking, or preparing baby formula. Do not boil your water as boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in water. Clean your faucet aerator to remove trapped debris.
If you are a City of Eastpointe water customer and would like your service line inspected or would like to have your drinking water tested for lead, contact the City of Eastpointe Department of Public Works Water Department at (586) 445-5053. If you are operating a food establishment such as a store, restaurant, bar, or food manufacturing establishment please visit this page for specific information on food firms. Additional information regarding lead contamination can be found on the City of Eastpointe’s website or on the EGLE and MDHHS websites.
ONLINE APPLICATION FOR STUDENT DEBT RELIEF NOW OPEN On Monday, Oct. 17, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that millions of working and middle-class borrowers can apply for student debt relief right NOW at studentaid.gov/debtrelief/apply. The application takes less than 5 minutes. It’s available in English and Spanish on desktop and mobile devices. And you don’t need to log in with an FSA ID or to upload any documents to apply. The Administration’s plan will provide up to $10,000 in relief to borrowers with federal student loans and up to $20,000 in relief to borrowers who were Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers who earned less than $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a household in 2020 or 2021 are eligible for relief.
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN DEBT FORGIVENESS PROGRAM Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reminding Michiganders to be on the lookout for scammers now that the U.S. Department of Education has made the application for student loan debt relief available. Here are the highlights of the announced loan debt relief:
- The current student loan repayment pause has been extended to Dec. 31, 2022, with payments resuming in January 2023. The U.S. Department of Education will provide up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients with loans held by the Department of Education and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers are eligible for this relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 or $250,000 for households. The application for relief is available here. The previously announced limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program waiver is still in effect until Oct. 31, 2022. If your waiver application is approved, the PSLF waiver would forgive the remaining balance on your federal student loans after 120 payments while working full-time for federal, state, Tribal, or local government; military; or a qualifying nonprofit. The limited PSLF waiver allows borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. For more information on eligibility and requirements, visit the public service loan forgiveness website.
AG Nessel encourages residents to follow these tips to avoid scams seeking to take advantage of borrowers’ eagerness to obtain debt relief: - Visit the Federal Student Aid website for more information. Do not provide your personal or financial information in response to unsolicited emails, phone calls, or texts either purportedly from the federal government or a company claiming to be able to assist you with obtaining the announced relief. Don’t agree to pay anyone for assistance in obtaining debt relief. Don’t be rushed. To get you to act fast, scammers say you could miss qualifying for repayment plans, loan consolidation, or loan forgiveness programs if you don’t sign up right away. Take your time and check it out. Don’t give away your FSA ID. Some scammers claim they need your FSA ID to help you, but don’t share your FSA ID with anyone. Dishonest people could use that information to get into your account and steal your identity.
Those who wish to make a report about potential scams can do so with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team by filing a complaint online or by calling 877-765-8388.
FALL BONFIRE TIPS It’s bonfire season and it’s good to know safety guidelines from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) before any burning takes place. Burn safely Whenever you burn, have a shovel and water source nearby, and never leave a fire unattended. Avoid burning on a windy day when hot embers can be whisked up by the wind into dry grasses or leaves. Burn efficiently Well-dried wood is most efficient for your bonfire, burning more cleanly and releasing less irritating smoke than poorly seasoned wood. Dry logs should feel light when lifted and produce a hollow sound when thumped together. Burning trash, plastic and hazardous materials is never allowed, and can cause health issues. Safely recycle or responsibly dispose of these materials. Burning isn’t always best You can repurpose fallen leaves, as dead leaves are a great free mulch that will insulate perennial plants and keep garden soil from washing away in the rain. They can also be raked up into a bin or piled to turn into nutrient-rich compost. Learn how with composting tips from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. In addition to helping your garden, fallen leaves serve as winter habitat for wildlife. Turtles, toads, salamanders, moths, and butterflies all spend the winter snuggled under leaves. An easy way to keep your area neat and provide habitat is to rake leaves under bushes and shrubs in your yard or provide a “wild area” where leaves can break down naturally. You can find more information on safe burning at Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires. Be safe and enjoy the fall season. |
