Michigan funds four statewide programs that give homeowners free certified lead-removal water filters. The state publishes them under the "Get Ahead of Lead" umbrella at michigan.gov/mileadsafe. Most pre-1978 homeowners don't know these programs exist. If you're a renovating contractor working in Washtenaw, Wayne, Ingham, Jackson, or Lenawee, the customer who just signed your kitchen-remodel SOW is also probably eligible for free water-line filters that they've never heard of. Referring them is the cheapest trust deposit you can make.
The four programs in plain English
1. The Faucet and Filter Safety Net Program
Open to all Michigan residents whose home tested above the action level for lead in drinking water, or who live in communities flagged for elevated risk. Provides a certified pitcher filter or faucet-mount filter free of charge, plus replacement cartridges for the program duration. Application runs through MDHHS at michigan.gov/mileadsafe.
2. The Statewide Filter Support Program
Broader eligibility than the Safety Net program. Targets Michigan households on private wells or older municipal systems with known lead service lines. Provides the same certified filter equipment plus replacement schedule.
3. The Filters for Foster Care Program
Targeted at foster families and foster care placements. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services prioritizes these households because foster children often move into rentals on short notice, before water testing can be completed. Filters arrive in advance of testing results.
4. The Lead ALE in Water Supply Support Program
ALE means "Action Level Exceedance." This program kicks in when a water utility reports a community-wide exceedance. Filters are distributed to affected households through the utility and the county health department.
How to use this on a job
On a pre-1978 kitchen remodel, midway through the walkthrough when you're explaining the EPA RRP compliance piece, drop the water-side context too. Sample script:
"You'll get the lead-safe paint side covered through our packet from ECT. Separately, on the water side — since this is a pre-1978 home — Michigan runs a few free filter programs. Worth ten minutes of your time to check eligibility at michigan.gov/mileadsafe. The state-funded filter is more expensive than the off-the-shelf Brita and it actually captures lead."
That ten-second referral does three things. First, it signals you understand the broader Michigan lead landscape, not just your slice of it. Second, it positions you as the contractor who proactively saves them money. Third, the homeowner remembers you the next time they have any pre-1978-related question — including the windows-replacement quote in 18 months.
Where this fits in the Mitchell Method
Trust comes before Value comes before Urgency. Most contractors lead with Urgency ("book before lead season prices go up") and lose. Telling a customer about a free government program they qualify for is pure Trust — you are visibly making them money on a thing that does not directly benefit you. That builds the relationship that pays you back on the next three jobs.
What ECT covers (and what we don't)
ECT is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm (NAT-F334542-1) that handles the federal RRP piece on your behalf — containment, training, monitoring, cleanup, the cleaning verification card test, and a 24-hour digital compliance packet retained for 39 months. See how it works for the full job flow.
ECT does NOT install water filters or work with MDHHS on the water side. That's separate state infrastructure with separate certified vendors. The two pieces don't overlap operationally — you can use ECT for the paint side and refer the homeowner to MDHHS for the water side, and the homeowner gets a complete lead-safety story from a single contractor relationship.
Bookmark this for your project managers
Save michigan.gov/mileadsafe in your phone's bookmarks and drop the link in every pre-1978 quote you send. The referral costs you nothing. It's the kind of small, defensible move that compounds across a year of jobs.
For the regulatory side that you, the contractor, are liable for, the master Michigan lead-law guide is at /lead-law. For county-specific enforcement posture and health-department contacts, see the county pages for Washtenaw, Wayne, Ingham, Jackson, and Lenawee.