Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLead In Drinking Water FAQIowa City Lead FAQ Sheet Published August 2018 Page 1 Iowa City Water Division Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Drinking Water Lead Exposure and the Lead Reduction Program What do the tiers on the Iowa City Lead Service Inventory map mean? The tiers and their meaning is part of the Federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (§ 141.86). - Tier 1: Single family home with a lead service line - Tier 2: Buildings or multi-family homes with a lead service line - Tier 3: Single family home with a lead-contaminated galvanized iron service line - Tier 4: Single family home with copper pipes joined by leaded solder - Tier 5: Homes and buildings with service lines representative of other commonly used materials - LSU – Lead Service Unknown: Homes and buildings with characteristics indicating a risk for lead or lead contaminated materials without evidence proving lead or leaded materials are not present How did the City determine my home’s lead service tier? City staff consulted many information sources to determine lead risk and assign a tier. These sources included water main tap records, building permits, build year from the assessor’s office, service leak repair records, discussions with local plumbers and retirees from the trades, statistics associated with the likelihood for finding a lead service line, and state and local laws. Unfortunately, all of these sources are imperfect and the City needs to be conservative in the assignment of lead risk. Therefore, finding any mention of lead is sufficient to characterize a dwelling as Tier 1 through 3. Tier 4 homes are generally those built between 1950 and 1988. LSU home are those with build years before 1950 without evidence the service line is not lead or lead contaminated. If a homeowner has a LSU designation, this property is eligible for the Service Line Materials Verification Dig cost-share. Please visit the Lead Reduction Program eligibility document for more information. How does lead get into drinking water? Lead enters drinking water primarily from corrosion or wearing of home plumbing materials containing lead, like lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets, and in some cases, pipes made of lead. Lead pipes that connect houses and buildings to water mains are also known as service lines. Where can I find more information about lead in drinking water? The US EPA Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water website at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead, the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791, or call the Iowa City Water Division at 319-356-5160. Sample results from lead testing are published in the annual Consumer Confidence Report. How do I test for lead in my drinking water? To request a test for drinking water lead, contact the Iowa City Water Division at 319-356-5160 to schedule an appointment to have your water tested. Staff will help you evaluate your water service material, collect a sample, and submit the sample for analysis to a state certified laboratory. There is no fee for this service. Iowa City Lead FAQ Sheet Published August 2018 Page 2 Alternatively you may contact the University of Iowa’s Get the Lead Out Iowa program to request a free lead sample kit. Can commercially available water filters remove lead out of drinking water? Yes. Please review the Faucets, Filters, and Fountains section of the Lead Reduction Program to learn more about the NSF/ANSI standards used to designate filtration devices capable of removing lead. Who is most susceptible to lead in drinking water? Infants, children, and pregnant women are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. Lead in drinking water can increase a person’s total lead exposure, particularly for infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices that are mixed with water. Lead can build up in the body over many years and cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys. Family doctors, pediatricians, or County Health professionals can provide more information about the health effects of lead. Who is responsible for removing lead from a water system? The Iowa City Water Division is responsible for ensuring the water it distributes is non-corrosive and all materials installed in the distribution system and water meters are considered “lead-free” as defined by law. Individual homeowners or property owners are responsible for the maintenance and replacement of a home’s water service line and plumbing. Do I need to worry about owning a lead line or older plumbing? Having lead pipe or solder in your water service does not automatically mean your drinking water contains lead. The only way to know if you have lead in your drinking water is to have your water tested. If you disturb any lead for maintenance or repairs, it is recommended that the entire lead service is replaced and the building’s plumbing thoroughly flushed. Damaging a lead service line is known to cause lead exposure by removing the protective internal lining of the pipe and allowing the drinking water to contact lead. How can I minimize the amount of lead in my drinking water? - Flush your tap for 15-30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking anytime the water has gone unused for more than six hours. o Flushing the tap means running the cold-water faucet until the water gets noticeably cooler. Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of the plumbing system, you still need to flush the water in each faucet before use because older faucets may be made of materials containing lead or have leaded debris caught in the aerator screens / strainer. - Do not use the hot water tap for drinking water or cooking. o Hot water can dissolve more lead quicker than cold water. If you need hot water, use the cold tap and heat the water on the stove, in a kettle, or in a microwave. Boiling water does not remove lead, and prolonged boiling can concentrate lead levels. - Flush the home plumbing periodically and after changes to the plumbing system (i.e. replacing a valve or fauctt). o Loose leaded debris from the plumbing materials can get caught in faucet aerators/strainers. To flush the home’s plumbing, remove the faucet strainer/aerators from all taps and run the water from three to five minutes. - Have an electrician check your grounding wire. Iowa City Lead FAQ Sheet Published August 2018 Page 3 o Many homes connect their main electrical Earth ground to the water pipes. This electrical connection may cause corrosion of pipe materials. A licensed electrician will be able to determine if the ground can be relocated. Do not attempt to change the wiring yourself as improper grounding can cause electrical shock and fire hazards. - Properly operate and maintain any in-home water treatment devices. o The Iowa City Water Division ensures the drinking water is non-corrosive. If an in-home treatment device is used like a whole home softening unit or a reverse osmosis system, then the chemistry of the water will change. This may cause the water to become more corrosive. Alternatively, an in-home system that is not maintained may not be providing contaminate reduction. - Review the City’s Lead Service Inventory map o This map will identify the home’s risk for having a lead or lead contaminated service line. The Lead Reduction Program provides resources for lead mitigation. - Consult with a family doctor or pediatrician. o These professionals can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects. - Have your drinking water tested for lead. o Testing the water is essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water. For more information on having your water tested, contact the Iowa City Water Division at 319-356-5160 or the University of Iowa Get the Lead Out program. How do I apply for service line insurance? Please contact your homeowner’s insurance provider or Home Serve (www.homeserveusa.com). The City does not express a preference for the insurance provider selected. The City does strongly encourage property owners, regardless of their lead service status, to have service line insurance. Service line repairs generally cost thousands of dollars and some homes have service lines configured under pavement or other surface infrastructure that could cause a repair to cost tens of thousands of dollars. Is reimbursement from the City considered taxable income? The City will send a 1099-MISC to all reimbursement recipients. Each owner’s tax situation may be different. Please consult with your tax professional about whether the reimbursement is taxable income. Why do I have to submit a W-9 with my reimbursement request? The W-9 is necessary for the City to process the reimbursement payment through the accounting software and to issue end-of-year tax forms. The City cannot reimburse with a W-9. How long before I receive my reimbursement? An approved reimbursement may take as much as a month to be received. The City reserves the right to deny a reimbursement request if the submitted materials are insufficient to determine eligible expenses or are for ineligible work.