Chemicals in Birmingham, MI City Water

Chemicals in Birmingham, MI City Water: What You Need to Know

If you live in Birmingham, Michigan, or surrounding communities like Bloomfield Hills, Beverly Hills, or Troy, your home is likely connected to municipal water — which is treated to meet federal safety standards. But “safe” doesn’t always mean healthy.

Municipal water in Southeast Michigan, including Oakland County, often contains disinfection chemicals like chlorine and chloramine, as well as trace contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PFAS, pesticide runoff, and pharmaceutical residues.

At CGC Home Services, we help homeowners take control of what comes out of their tap. For top-notch water filtration in Birmingham, MI, install whole house carbon filtration systems and Kinetico K5 Reverse Osmosis systems and enjoy cleaner water from every faucet.

Why Are There Chemicals in Birmingham’s Water?

Municipal water treatment facilities use chemicals to disinfect and prevent the spread of disease, especially chlorine and chloramine (a chlorine-ammonia compound). These chemicals kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

Common Chemicals in Birmingham’s City Water:

  • Chlorine – Used to disinfect water but can cause dry skin, respiratory irritation, and poor taste/odor
  • Chloramine – A more stable disinfectant that can cause similar side effects and damage rubber plumbing parts
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Often enter the water supply from industrial runoff, gas stations, or agriculture
  • PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) – Known as “forever chemicals,” linked to long-term health issues
  • Pharmaceuticals – Traces of medications from wastewater that are not fully removed during treatment
  • Disinfection Byproducts (THMs, HAAs) – Formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water; potentially carcinogenic

These contaminants are often present in trace amounts, but long-term exposure can raise serious concerns.

How Do These Chemicals Affect Your Health?

Even if your water meets EPA guidelines, constant exposure to certain chemicals may cause:

  • Dry skin and brittle hair
  • Chlorine inhalation during showers (linked to asthma and respiratory irritation)
  • Damage to rubber seals and plumbing systems
  • Increased risk of certain cancers from disinfection byproducts
  • Digestive issues or skin sensitivities, especially in children or people with autoimmune conditions

The Solution: Whole House Carbon Filter + Kinetico K5 Drinking Water System

At CGC Home Services, we recommend a two-tiered approach to water treatment for Birmingham-area homeowners:

1. Whole House Carbon Filtration System

This system is installed where the water enters your home and removes:

  • Chlorine and chloramine
  • Pesticides, herbicides, and VOCs
  • Bad taste and odor
  • Disinfection byproducts

Benefits of Whole House Filtration:

✔️ Clean, chemical-free water from every tap
✔️ Protects your skin and hair during showers
✔️ Extends the life of your plumbing and appliances
✔️ Improves air quality by reducing chlorine vapor in showers

2. Kinetico K5 Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Station

This advanced under-sink filtration system is your last line of defense — ideal for removing what the city (and even whole house filters) can’t.

Removes up to 99% of:

  • Arsenic, lead, and nitrates
  • PFAS/PFOS
  • Pharmaceutical residues
  • Chlorine, fluoride, and VOCs

Why the K5 System Stands Out:

  Customizable filters based on your local water profile
  Non-electric operation – efficient and reliable
  Fresh, great-tasting water on demand
  Certified to NSF/ANSI standards

Serving Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Beverly Hills & Surrounding Communities

CGC Home Services proudly helps homeowners across Oakland County, including:

  • Birmingham
  • Bloomfield Hills
  • Beverly Hills
  • Troy
  • Royal Oak
  • West Bloomfield
  • Clawson
  • Southfield
  • Farmington Hills

Whether you’re dealing with poor-tasting water, skin irritation, or just want peace of mind, we’re here to help with water testing, expert installation of advanced water filtration systems in Birmingham, and long-term service.

Get a Free In-Home Water Test Today

Want to know what’s in your Birmingham tap water? We’ll test it — no cost, no obligation. Call CGC Home Services at (810) 638-0426 to schedule your free water test. We are the local water experts in Birmingham, MI, known for our expert water treatment solutions.

Better Water for a Healthier Home

Cleaner, safer water isn’t just about hydration — it touches every part of your life, from the shower to the dishwasher to your morning coffee. With a whole house carbon filter and the Kinetico K5 Reverse Osmosis system, you’ll experience the difference soft, chemical-free water makes — inside and out. If you are looking for a trusted plumbing company in Birmingham, MI,  reach out to CGC Home Services. We offer quick and reliable installation of water filtration systems.

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What Our Customers Say

Highly recommend CGC. Joseph contacted me when he would arrive, explained everything about the Kinetico install and maintenance and cleaned up the area perfectly. He also took care of another problem that was not part of the scheduled service call. Will definitely use them again.

Quick install, very professional. I would highly recommend this company. They have done a lot of work for us, great service...

Shane was prompt and Courteous. A Pleasure to work with. CGC is where we turn for all our water needs.

I have 1 well servicing 2 households and CGC keeps salt in my softener every month. And keeps me up and running if there are any issues. Highly recommend for plumbing and water quality services.

Retired from retail it's all about customer service..He did an awesome job..thank you!

Dan the service tech was very professional and friendly. All the employees we have had to our home we have had confidence in.

Jordan always takes time to explain each step and make sure I understand options. He answers questions truthfully and helps me prepare for issues that may arise in the future so I can be financially prepared. He is also very skilled at solving issues that arise.

Friendly,& gets the job done quickly,we recommend CGC Always good to know there's help not far away,thank you!!

Thourough and knowledgeable, these people have always done well since the install.

This is the 2nd home CGC has installed a water softener system, neutralizer, and Kinetico RO drinking water. The previous week we met with, Caleb at our home, at 8:15am, a trainee that was not done training, and boss man Jonathan called at 8:20am and had him to leave so Jonathan could answer our call. Jonathan arrived at 9am and we started the CGC visit over for the 2nd time. At this time we committed to purchasing the system. Jonathan scheduled our install for one week later, with an 8-noon install. We were under the impression he would be our installer. Jonathan also serviced our other home a month earlier. August 10th I received a text to confirm our scheduled appointment for Tuesday August 11th, 8-noon. I responded to the text and confirmed the appointment. I arrived on site at 8am, ready for a 8-noon install, no one showed up or call me. At 12:30pm I called to confirm our tech was still coming, and that he was ok. The office couldn’t reach the tech by phone, so at this point no guarantee. After the 2nd call to the CGC office, I was told he was going to be late, arriving at 2;45pm. At this point I felt angry that no one from CGC contacted me to let me know the new tech Caleb was sick and no coming for our installation. Horrible communication from CGC, and not a pleasant experience trying to determine what was going on. Austin arrived at 2:45pm, was a pleasure to work with and did a great job on the installation. At 8:30 pm, he completed the installation, a 12.5 hour day to have CGC to complete their commitment. How would CGC feel if they were treated how I was? Why couldn’t they call me to let me know they were going to be late? What is their protocol when an employee is sick. CGC angered me, leaving me feeling taken advantage of, after taking off from work to oversee the installation that was scheduled a week in advance, and approved the day before. Again, how would you feel if you were treated this way.

Charles did a great job troubleshooting our water softener issue. He was very through. Helped provide options to update the system.

We purchased our own reverse osmosis system, and called this company to install it because it seemed like they were knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the person who installed it did not do it correctly and also failed to put the filter inside one of the reverse osmosis membranes. The tank wasn’t filling, we noticed there was an issue when we did the TDS test on it, and our tap water was showing better than the reverse osmosis faucet, which was interesting. My husband ended up going through the steps of installing and realized there were several things that weren’t done correctly. Luckily, my husband fixed it himself however it’s very unfortunate that we had to pay $611 to get this system installed incorrectly. Unfortunately when I called to relay this message to CGC, they just apologized and giggled a little. Not sure why that’s funny, but it’s alright we just know to not refer this business to any friends or family!

As always Jason professional and helpful. As asset to your company.

Shane is a great asset to the team. He is very knowledgeable and thorough. Great customer service and will most definitely recommend him next time I need service from CGC Home Services. Thanks again Shane!

Charles at CGC water treatment was professional and very kind. Thank you for your promptness, honesty & kindness.

Jacksonville’s city punch has a god-sent healer. I had my dude Chris get me set up with the most vital water softener for this old house and let me tell you… my pipes and faucets are spewing out magical softness without the buildup. 12/10 would recommend for your home, new or old… Jacksonville residents need this to increase overall health and reduce maintenance on your home.

Elvin was amazing! He quickly diagnosed the issue, fixed it, and then explain to me why things were doing what they were doing. More than anything I like that he explained everything and how it makes sense. Highly recommend!

Michael was excellent. He explained everything perfectly. He went thru all the products and options.

Great service and knowledgeable technician.

Well, trained technician Anthony Collins Changed out resin … Rebuilt the valve system… Adjusted the water level in the tank and changed our R.O water filters… Very professional and courteous… We now have great soft water!

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