City Observes October 19-25 as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
Published on October 22, 2025
The City of Kalamazoo Department of Public Services and Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) are observing October 19 to October 25 as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. This month’s observance is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s commitment for addressing ongoing lead exposure concerns.
Lead is a heavy metal that was used in construction and household paint before 1978. Although it has been banned in residential paint, it remains a hazard in older homes. Lead is dangerous for humans, especially in children. Even very low levels of lead in children’s bodies are linked to negative effects on intellect, concentration, behavior, and academic achievement. The most common ways to get lead poisoning are dust from friction surfaces and deteriorating paint throughout a home.
Kalamazoo’s focus on lead prevention will include a Lead Abatement Training session for lead supervisors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, November 17, at Michigan Works! Southwest, 1601 S. Burdick St. in Kalamazoo. The event offers free training for people who are interested in becoming a certified lead professional. Certified lead professionals work on lead abatement projects and help create healthier communities. showcase Kalamazoo as a city committed to a lead safe community. Lead abatement projects involve comprehensive construction skills with a focus on lead remediation.
The November 17 Lead Abatement Training is a partnership with Michigan Works, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, and Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services (KNHS). Persons interested in the training may contact Ty Liggons at liggonst1@michigan.gov or call (517) 275-2994. Applicants must be 18 years old or older and participants must register for the training. Two years of construction experience is required for the training.
Kalamazoo’s observance also marks the City’s continuing focus on lead service line replacement. Last year, the City of Kalamazoo accomplished a milestone by surpassing 5,000 lead service line replacements. Work this year is taking place in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood. Public Works crews in the neighborhood have replaced an additional 800 lead service lines in the past year.
“Our commitment to a lead-safe community remains steadfast,” said James J. Baker, public services director and city engineer for the City of Kalamazoo. “Since 2017, we’ve replaced an annual average of more than 500 non-copper water services. We’re ahead of schedule this year, and its full steam ahead toward our goal of replacing all the city’s estimated 10,000 lead service lines within the next 10 years.”
While water is a major focus of lead removal initiatives, the City of Kalamazoo also has other ways to combat the dangers of lead poisoning. Kalamazoo, for example, began its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Remediation Program in 2018 through a partnership with KNHS. The KNHS program addresses lead hazards in older homes at no cost to the residents. To date, 50 properties throughout Kalamazoo have been made safe from lead with the program and eight more homes are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Information on the City’s remediation program and eligibility can be found here.
The City of Kalamazoo also provides free lead and copper testing to customers upon request. NSF Certified point-of-use filters are also provided at no charge to homes within the water supply system. Public Works staff have handed out thousands of water filters, including more than 8,500 filters alone in 2022, and more than 220 and counting so far through September this year. Customers are urged to call 311 or (269) 337-8000 for questions about these services or to arrange for free lead sampling.
More information on Kalamazoo’s ongoing commitment to protecting the community from lead hazards and replacing all lead water service lines can be found here. Outside the City, Kalamazoo County has a Lead Poisoning Prevention Program including a designated nurse to help educate families about early lead testing and to decrease the incidence of lead poisoning in children. Anyone with concerns about their child and lead poisoning can go to the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department, located at 311 E. Alcott St. Open testing is held from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Information on the county program can be found here.