LEAD IN DRINKING WATER

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Cities of West Linn and Oregon City, and Clackamas River Water are concerned about lead in your drinking water. Although most homes have very low levels of lead in their drinking water, some homes in the community have lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mg/L). Under Federal law we are required to improve our existing program to minimize lead in your drinking water by December 31, 2005.

This program includes:

1.      Corrosion control treatment (treating the water to make it less likely that lead will dissolve into the water);

2.      Source water treatment (removing any lead that is in the water at the time it leaves our treatment facility); and

3.      A public education program.

If you have any questions about how we are carrying out the requirements of the lead regulation please call your water provider.

·        Oregon City      503-657-8241

·        Clackamas River Water       503-722-0220

HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD: Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain and pewter, and water.  Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if too much of it enters your body.

Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys.  The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies.  In addition, a child at play often comes into contact with sources of lead contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely affect an adult.  It is important to wash children's hands and toys often, and to try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.

LEAD IN DRINKING WATER: Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person's total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices that are mixed with water.  EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person's total exposure to lead.

HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER: Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes.  Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household plumbing.  These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets. In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.

When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your drinking water.  This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon after returning from work or school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.  

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE IN THE HOME TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN DRINKING WATER: Despite our best efforts mentioned earlier to control water corrosivity and remove lead from the water supply, lead levels in some homes or buildings can be high.  To find out whether you need to take action in your own home, have your drinking water tested to determine if it contains excessive concentrations of lead.  Testing the water is essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water. Some local laboratories that can provide this service are listed at the bottom of this brochure.  For more information on having your water tested, please call the appropriate contact for the water system in which you reside: City of Oregon City - Gail Johnson at 503-657-8241 ext. 107, or Clackamas River Water - Gordon McGhee at 503-722-9241.

If a water test indicates that the drinking water drawn from a tap in your home contains lead above 15 ppb, then you should take the following precautions:

1.  FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM.

Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your family's health. Flushing usually uses less than one or two gallons of water and costs less than 18 cents per month.

To flush, let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The longer water resides in your home's plumbing, the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet until the water gets noticeably colder, usually about 15 - 30 seconds. Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of your home's plumbing system, you still need to flush the water in each faucet before using it for drinking or cooking. 

To conserve water, fill a couple of bottles for drinking water after flushing the tap, and whenever possible use the first flush water to wash dishes or water the plants.

If you live in a high-rise building, letting the water flow before using it may not work to lessen your risk from lead. These plumbing systems have more, and sometimes larger pipes than smaller buildings. Ask your landlord for help in locating the source of the lead and for advice on reducing the lead level.

2.  USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR COOKING AND DRINKING.

Try not to cook with, or drink water  from the hot water tap.  Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and heat it on the stove.

3.      REMOVE LOOSE SOLDER AND DEBRIS FROM PLUMBING MATERIALS. 

Remove loose solder and debris from the plumbing materials installed in newly constructed homes, or homes in which the plumbing has recently been replaced.  To do this, remove the faucet strainers from all taps and run the water from 3 -5 minutes. Thereafter, periodically remove the strainers and flush out any debris that has accumulated over time.

4. IDENTIFY AND REPLACE LEAD SOLDER.

If your copper pipes are joined with lead solder that has been installed illegally since it was banned in 1986, notify the plumber who did the work and request that he or she replace the lead solder with lead-free solder. Lead solder looks dull gray, and when scratched with a key looks shiny. In addition, notify the Department of Human Services-Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405 about the violation.

5. HAVE AN ELECTRICIAN CHECK YOUR WIRING