SAGINAW, MI -- Water-test data from across Michigan reveals that 71 water systems in Michigan have higher lead levels in water than the city of Flint, which has been furiously replacing water pipes to end its lead-in-water water crisis.

In Mid-Michigan, the city of Saginaw, Bay County and Owosso are among the locations with higher lead levels than Flint.

The results for Flint are from the first half of the year, and the city of Saginaw, Bay County and Owosso results are based on when the federal regulations required them to submit lead levels.

The latest lead results for the city of Saginaw are from Dec., 31, 2016.

Paul Reinsch, superintendent of water treatment and field operations for Saginaw Water Treatment Plant said the lead level is 9 parts per billion (ppb)

The EPA action level is 15 ppb.

Flint's lead level test results are 7 ppb.

Reinsch said there are two main reasons why Saginaw's lead levels might test higher than Flint's.

The city of Saginaw treatment plant uses a different chemical to treat the water.

The sampling pools can vary.

The city uses a chemical called calcium hydroxide and it's used to coat the pipes and restrict the amount of corrosion of metal ions into the water, Reinsch said.

"It's basically a protective surface so the water isn't in direct contact with the lead ions," Reinsch said.

He said pools can vary because some people might discontinue their participation to get water tested or in some instances people no longer have a lead water line.

Reinsch said the treatment plant tests 60 samples a year.

Owosso

The lead test results for the city of Owosso in Shiawassee County are from Dec. 31, 2014, and the level is 11 ppb.

The water supply is for Owosso and neighboring areas, such as Corunna, Owosso and Caledonia townships.

"We don't have control over where we sample our intake. We had one sample that was excessively high, that shot our numbers up, " said Dave Haut, water plant superintendent for the city of Owosso's Water Treatment Plant.

Haut said it's a requirement to test in areas that have a high probability of having high lead or copper results.

The results were from 2014 and since then, the plant has done more testing and the most recent results came back under the federal action level, Haut said.

"Even though that's not published information, that's what's coming up in our next report. So it's gonna be a non-issue for the next three years here," Haut said.

He said Owosso was a "blip" on the map when everyone had heightened awareness of the Flint water crisis.

Haut said Owosso uses lime to soften the water and it coats the pipes with a build-up to protect customers from having any lead leaching into their water.

Bay County

Bay County is the most unique in terms of how often the water supply is tested.

The county tests its water quarterly, four times a year, as opposed to the areas that test every three years.

"We don't do the testing. The homeowners do the testing and a lot of it is based on hold time... how long the water sits. There's a process to taking the test." said Mark Moers, superintendent of water for the Bay Area Water Treatment Plant.

Moers said the process isn't consistent because the plant drops off the bottles to residents, they fill it up with water and they have to let the water sit for eight hours minimum and then test it.

Despite the inconsistencies with the resident sampling procedure, Moers said the lead levels are continuing to improve.

The lead level most recently was 9 ppb and the next round of testing will be in March. The latest results were submitted on June, 30 2017.

"Our goal is to remove lead from the system, that's what our goal is for Bay County. But we are treating the water to mask the lead and eventually remove it all," Moers said.

He said Bay County tests so often compared to other water systems because they have a fairly new plant. The county built the plant two years ago, and since it is newer, testing often is required.

Moers said it's the largest microfiltration plant in Michigan.

"The real goal for all the all the water professionals in the state is to get the lead out of the system," Moers said.