120K in Peoria Affected by Lead in Water System

Over 120,000 people in Illinois’ Peoria District have been warned about high lead levels in their water. Illinois American Water Company tested the water and found high levels. They warned everyone on Monday.

Test Results Reveal Concerning Lead Concentrations

Illinois American Water Company tested the water and found 14 out of 103 samples had high lead levels. These levels are above what the Environmental Protection Agency says is safe. The high levels were found in different places in Peoria.

The company said the high levels were found in specific places. They are working with customers to fix the problem. “These test results are specific to each of the individual sites tested,” they said.

New Federal Regulations Drive Stricter Standards

Water utilities across the country are changing their ways because of new rules. The Environmental Protection Agency has set new rules for lead and copper. These rules require water systems to replace lead lines in ten years and lower the safe level of lead in water.

Illinois American Water Company is following these new rules. They are working with the Illinois EPA to make sure everyone knows about the high levels. They had to tell everyone within 24 hours.

Health Implications and Risk Assessment

The Environmental Protection Agency says no amount of lead is safe. Lead can build up in the body and cause health problems. This is why the EPA wants to keep lead levels as low as possible.

Children and babies are especially at risk from lead. It can hurt their brains and learning. Pregnant women and adults can also get sick from lead. It can harm their hearts and kidneys.

Benjamin Huynh, a professor at Johns Hopkins, explained the situation. “This isn’t necessarily cause for panic, but it is concerning in the sense that low-level chronic exposure of lead to large populations will have widespread small health effects that we might not notice personally,” he said.

Understanding Water Contamination Sources

Lead in water usually comes from three main sources. These are the water treatment plant, lead pipes, and lead fixtures in homes. Huynh said that problems with old lead pipes are often the cause of high lead levels.

The Environmental Working Group found harmful substances in water systems across the country. They say better water treatment could prevent thousands of cancer cases.

Immediate Safety Recommendations

Illinois American Water Company has given advice to help people avoid lead:

• Flush cold water taps for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water that has been sitting unused for more than six hours
• If your service line contains lead, extend flushing time to three to five minutes
• Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula, as hot water may contain higher lead concentrations
• Boiling water will not remove or reduce lead levels
• Consider bottled water as an alternative for vulnerable populations including pregnant women, infants, and young children

Moving Forward

The water company is doing more tests to understand the situation fully. They want to find out if there are any specific problems. If you have questions about your water or want a lead testing kit, you can reach out to the Illinois American Water Company Water Quality Team.

Huynh pushes for faster replacement of lead service lines everywhere. He suggests using federal money to help local governments. Until then, he advises using testing services and water filters that meet certain standards to lower lead levels.

The issue in Peoria shows the big challenges water companies have. They must keep water safe while following new rules to protect health. As old systems get older and rules get stricter, other places might face similar problems.

For residents seeking water quality testing or additional information about lead sampling kits, contact leadfreeil@amwater.com.

References:

https://www.newsweek.com/illinois-residents-issued-drinking-water-warning-2099159