Is our water safe to drink? 

• We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants; the recent test results indicate the City’s water system exceeded the EPA’s action level for lead at certain sampling locations and is currently in compliance with the Division of Drinking Water.

What were the sample results for lead? 

• Results from 33 sample locations inside residential homes constructed prior to 1990 were analyzed for lead.   Results from these samples indicated that the 90^th percentile of these samples was 0.016mg/L which exceeded the 0.015mg/L action level established by the EPA.

What is mg/L measurement? 

• Milligrams per liter is a measure of the concentration by weight (milligrams) of a substance per unit volume (liters).

What is the source of lead?  

• The City believes the source of lead in the four samples exceeding the action level is from water pipes within the homes where samples were collected and not from the general water distribution system.  Prior to 1990 residential construction used copper water pipes with solder containing lead and plumbing fixtures containing lead more frequently.

What is being done? 

• The city is required to sample for lead in the drinking water every three years at 30 locations.  Since the latest test result exceeds the EPA action level the City will now be required to perform 60 of these tests every six months until test results fall below the action level for two consecutive test periods.  The City will also be testing for lead at wells and entry points into our distribution system in the next 90 days.  Results from these tests will be published on the city website.

Do all homes need to be sampled?  

• The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requires all community water systems to sample locations that may be particularly susceptible to high lead or copper concentrations.  Homes constructed prior to 1990 with copper pipes and lead solder or older homes that may have used lead pipes or lead service lines are most vulnerable.  Sample sites in our distribution system were selected at random based on these criteria.  The City recommends any testing for lead in drinking water be completed by a certified laboratory.  This can be done for a cost.  The City will cover the cost of a lead and copper test at locations that meet the following criteria: The structure was built prior to the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act prohibiting the use of pipes, solder or flux that were not “lead free”; internal plumbing is original and contains copper piping with lead solder or galvanized piping, or if any part of the plumbing in use can be verified to contain lead pipe internal and/or external to the structure.

What are the health effects of lead? 

• Lead can cause serious health and developmental problems.  It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women.

Steps You can Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water

• Run your water to flush out lead. The more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes the more lead it may contain.  Run the water before using it for drinking or cooking, this flushes out the lead-containing water from the pipes.
• Everyone can consider using a filter to reduce lead in drinking water.   Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for Lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate reduction. 
• Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Do not drink water from the hot water tap, lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
• Do not boil water to remove lead.  Boiling water will not reduce lead levels
• Identify older plumbing fixtures that likely contain lead.   Older faucets, fittings, valves and piping such as lead pipe or copper pipe with solder containing lead.  When purchasing plumbing materials look for items that are certified to meet NSF standard 61.
• Clean your aerator.  The aerator on the end of your faucet is a screen that will catch debris.   This debris could include particulate lead which is dislodged scale and sediment released into the water from the sides of the plumbing. Disturbances, such as replacing a water meter, construction and excavation activities, or home plumbing repairs can cause particulates to shake free from inside pipes and plumbing.
• Test your water for lead. Call us at 801-335-8726 to find out additional information on how to get your water tested for lead.   Testing can be completed by a certified laboratory for a cost.  The City will cover the cost of a lead and copper test at locations that meet the following criteria: The structure was built prior to the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act prohibiting the use of pipes, solder or flux that were not “lead free”; internal plumbing is original and contains copper piping with lead solder or galvanized piping, or if any part of the plumbing in use can be verified to contain lead pipe internal and/or external to the structure.