Preventing Lead in Drinking Water
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
The City of Osceola views public health as a core part of our mission. We consistently provide safe, reliable water services that meet or exceed all state and federal standards for public health, including compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and its subsequent revisions (LCRR).
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How Lead gets into Drinking Water
The following information is borrowed from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA is the federal agency that regulates lead amounts in drinking water. This and other information about the risks of lead exposure from drinking water can be found at epa.gov.
It is important to clarify that the City of Osceola tests for contaminants, including lead, and our drinking water must be compliant with the Nebraska Safe Drinking Water Act. Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead service lines (LSLs), these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. [EPA.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water]
Note: the term LSL includes galvanized steel due to the possible lead content in the zinc coating and the ability of galvanized steel to absorb lead from previous or current lead pipes upstream of the galvanized pipe.
For most homes and buildings built after 1978, the presence of lead is less prevalent. However, there is still a chance that lead material could have been used in residential service lines following this date. For this reason, it is important for all property owners in the community to conduct their own on-site inspection and determine what material type their water service line is made of - lead, copper, galvanized steel, or plastic.
To complete the EPA’s required service line inventory, the Wahoo DOU will need property owners’ assistance with verifying service line material. Through basic tests or observation, property owners can provide the DOU with what type of material their service line is made of – lead, copper, galvanized steel, or plastic.