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The following information is provided under the Oregon Administrative
Rules, Chapter 333, Division 61, Public Water Systems, Treatment Requirements and Performance
Standards for Corrosion Control. OAR 333-061-0034(5).
The Unites States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the City of Tigard 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 were required to have a program in place to minimize lead in your drinking water by
January 1, 1997. This program includes corrosion control treatment, source water treatment,
and public education, if you have any questions about how we are carrying out the requirements
of the lead regulation please give us a call at 503-639-4171. This section explains the
simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by reducing your exposure to lead
in drinking water.
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 great 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 try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
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- 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.
The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person's
total exposure to lead.
- 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 household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join
copper pipe, and 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.
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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 end of this booklet. For more information on having
your water tested, please call 503-639-4171.
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:
- 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 get noticeable 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. Flushing tap water is a simple and
inexpensive measure you can take to protect your family's health. It usually uses
less than one or two gallons of water and costs less than $0.17 for water per month.
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 the 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 small buildings. Ask your landlord for help
in locating the source of the lead, and ask your landlord and the City of Tigard for
advice on reducing the lead level.
- 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.
- Remove loose lead solder and debris from the plumbing materials installed
in newly constructed home, or homes in which the plumbing has recently been
replaced, by removing the faucet strainers from all taps and running the water
from 3-5 minutes. Thereafter, periodically remove the strainers and flush out
any debris that has accumulated over time.
- If your copper pipes are joined with lead solder that has been installed
illegally since it was banned in June 30, 1985, 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 Oregon Department of Human Services about the violation.
- Have an electrician check your wiring. If grounding wires from the
electrical system are attached to your pipes, corrosion may be increased.
Check with a licensed electrician or your local electrical code to determine if
your wiring can be grounded elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the wiring yourself
because improper grounding can cause electrical shock and fire hazards.
The steps described above will reduce the lead concentrations in your drinking water.
However, if a water test indicates that the drinking water coming from your tap contains
lead concentration in excess of 15 ppb after flushing, or after you have completed actions
to minimize lead levels, then you may want to take the following additional measures:
- Purchase or lease a home treatment device. Home treatment devices are
limited in that each unit treats only the water that flows from the faucet
to which it is connected, and all of the devices require periodic maintenance
and replacement. Devices such as reverse osmosis systems or distillers can
effectively remove lead from your drinking water. Some activated carbon filters
may reduce lead levels at the tap, however all lead reduction claims should be
investigated. Be sure to check the actual performance of a specific home
treatment device before and after installing the unit, and to strictly maintain
and replace the unit according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Purchase bottled water for drinking and cooking.
- You can consult a variety of sources for additional information. Your family
doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with
information about the health effects of lead. State and local government
agencies that can be contacted include:
The City of Tigard at 503-639-4171 can provide you with information
about your community's water supply, and a list of local laboratories that
have be certified by EPA for testing water quality;
The City of Tigard, Building Permits-Plumbing Section, 503-639-4171
can provide you with information about building permit records that should
contain the names of plumbing contractors that plumbed your home; and
The Oregon Department of Human Services - Health Services - Drinking Water
Program 503-731-4317 or the Washington County Health Division at 503-648-3470
can provide you with information about the health effects of lead and how you
can have your child's blood tested.
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Lead exposure is a world-wide health problem. Household
dust, soil, paint, pigments, solder, ammunition, plumbing, cable coverings, caulk,
bearings, pottery, and fold medicine remedies or cosmetics may contain lead. People
are exposed to lead in many ways.
Exposure to lead through drinking water is possible if materials in a building's
plumbing contain lead. The level of lead in water can increase when water "stands"
in contact with lead-based solder and brass faucets containing lead.
Tigard's source water contains no detectable lead. Our water supplies consistently
meet or surpass all federal and state drinking water standards. Tigard has removed
all known lead service connections from its distribution system.
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The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) requires water systems
to monitor regularly for lead in targeted homes with high risk factors for lead. Some
households in our community have lead levels in standing water that exceed the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's "action level," usually because of plumbing installed
in buildings years ago. We want all our customers to have the important public health
information provided in this section.
For more information:
TUS EPA, Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-426-4791
Web site: http://www.epa.gov/safewater
National Lead Information Line, 800-LEADFYI
NSF International, 800-NSF-MARK
Web site: http://www.nsf.org
Easy Steps to Avoid Possible Exposure to
Lead from Plumbing:
- Use only fresh water from the cold water tap for drinking, cooking,
or making baby formula.
- Avoid using water that has been standing in the pipes. When a faucet is not used for
more than six hours, run the cold water tap until the water feels noticeable colder
(30 seconds - 2 minutes). This flushes standing water out of the pipes, replacing it
with fresh water.
- Use only lead-free solder when making plumbing repairs. It's the law.
- Look for faucets that are NSF-certified to limit contaminants to acceptable
drinking water levels.
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Water Treatment and Water Quality Monitoring
- The Oregon Health Division has set water treatment targets for
Tigard. These targets reduce corrosion in plumbing through adjusting the pH of the water.
We have measured at least a 50 percent reduction in lead at the tap with pH adjustment.
Home Lead Hazard Reduction Program
- This program focuses on all sources of lead in the home environment,
including lead dust in and around older homes once painted with lead-based paint. It includes
lead-risk evaluation, blood-lead level testing for children, and educational materials about
lead safety. It provides services to control or reduce lead hazards.
Community Education and Outreach
- The City of Tigard works with community, public health,
environmental, business, and media organizations and agencies to develop educational
activities and materials about lead hazards.
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The following is a list of some State-approved laboratories*
in the Portland Metropolitan Area that you can call to have your water tested for lead.
These labs charge a fee.
Alexin Analytical: 503-639-9311
Coffey Laboratories: 503-254-1794
Food Products Laboratory: 503-253-9136
North Creek Analytical: 503-643-9200
Wy'east Environmental Sciences: 503-231-9320
*For more information on certified labs, contact the Oregon Department of
Human Services, 503-731-4317.
If you have any questions regarding any of this material, please contact the City of Tigard,
503-639-4171.
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