Tastes Great... And It's Safe

Let It Run... And Get The Lead Out

Water supply systems across the United States are testing their water for lead. The testing is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Federal Safe Drinking Water program.

More than 10 percent of the homes tested in Golden Valley and New Hope recently were above the EPA “action level” for lead in drinking water. Crystal meets EPA standards for lead in drinking water.

	Understanding Water Quality 2002 Tap Water Test Results

The Joint Water Commission will be taking steps to reduce the level of lead in the water supply. Meanwhile, there are things you can do to reduce your exposure to lead in water.

Why is lead a problem?
Lead is a common metal, used in many consumer products. It can be found in lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food, some types of pottery, pewter and crystal, and water. If it is inhaled or swallowed, lead can build up in the body over time. Too much lead in the body can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, red blood cells, and kidneys. In children it has been associated with impaired mental development and hearing problems.

Infants, children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

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Why are infants, children, and pregnant women at greater risk?
Amounts of lead that won't hurt an adult can be very harmful to a growing child, who can absorb lead into the body more rapidly than an adult. Children may also come in contact with lead from such things as soil and dust when they play, so they are more likely to be exposed to lead from other sources than adults are.

Drinking water is not our only source of lead exposure, but it can significantly increase a person's total lead exposure. It can be a special problem for infants whose diets may consist largely of water – like baby formulas or concentrated juices. It is important for pregnant women and nursing mothers to limit their exposure, as well, since the lead they absorb will be passed on to the fetus or baby.

A child's mental and physical growth can be permanently harmed by too much lead.

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How does lead get into my drinking water?
Usually, lead gets into your water after it leaves your local treatment plant. The most likely source of lead in your household water is lead pipe, lead solder, or brass fixtures in your own plumbing. In older communities, lead service lines may connect your home with the water mains under the street.

Lead dissolves continuously into the water. Water that stands idle in pipes for long periods of time may have higher concentrations of lead than water that passes through without stopping.

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What can I do to reduce the lead in the drinking water?
Don't drink or cook with water that had been in your plumbing for more than six hours – overnight, for example, or while you were at work.

Let it run! You can clear the water out of your pipes by letting the cold water faucet run until you can feel the water get colder. This will usually take from 30 to 60 seconds. This should be done with each faucet before water is drawn for drinking or cooking. Flushing a toilet, for example, will not completely clear water from pipes going to the bathroom sink.
In addition, because hot water dissolves lead more quickly than cold water, water from the hot water tap should not be used for drinking or cooking. Water needed for these purposes should be drawn from the cold tap and then heated.

It is especially important not to use hot tap water for making baby formula.

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How can I tell if the water in my home has too much lead?
Many laboratories can test your water to see if there is a lead problem. Fees will vary between labs. Check your Yellow Pages under “Laboratories – Testing.”

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Will water treatment devices help?
Some treatment devices can reduce the amount of lead in your drinking water. Reverse osmosis and distillation units can be used for that purpose. Since these devices also demineralize water, however, they should be installed only at the faucet. They can be expensive and must be regularly maintained to work well.

Check the product literature to be sure it has been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation for lead removal.

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What is my local water supplier doing about the problem of lead?
Your local water supply system will be taking a number of steps to deal with the lead problem. They include:

• checking the water source in the system for the presence of lead.
• implementing corrosion-control strategies to make the water less likely to absorb lead from materials in the plumbing system.
• exploring other sources, such as an alternative source of water.

For more information about the testing results; how to get your home tested; or the actions being taken to reduce lead levels, please contact:

In Golden Valley:
Merlin Thorn, utilities superintendent, 763-593-8075

In New Hope:
Paul Coone, utilities superintendent, 763-592-6762

If you have questions about the testing program or the health effects of lead, call the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-215-0950.

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