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As a concerned citizen, you need to know if your home contains lead, which could be a health hazard, particularly for young children. The most common sources of lead exposure include: paint, lead dust (due to renovating or remodeling activities), and lead contaminated soil. Many homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint which is considered a hazard if the paint is deteriorating particularly in high traffic areas.
Although minor, drinking water can contribute to your overall lead exposure. Lead exposure in drinking water comes from corroding household plumbing fixtures. Homes built prior to 1950 may contain lead service lines-the pipe that brings the water to your home from the water main. In addition, homes built priorto 1988 may contain lead pipes and/or lead solder in pipe joints. Even new faucets labeled lead freemay contain up to 8% lead.
It is the Cleveland Division of Water's responsibility to effectively manage our drinking water quality and delivery system. Adding orthophosphate, for example, during the treatment process helps minimize lead corrosion from your plumbing materials. Additional preventive steps that you can take include:
- Replace lead-containing pipes and fixtures with non-lead materials.
- Run your tap water for several minutes before drinking and cooking if your water hasn't been used in several hours. This will clear out stagnant water that has been in contact with your plumbing for an extended period of time, and possibly leaching lead from these fixtures.
- Clean your faucet aerators regularly as they can trap lead particles, which will slowly dissolve into your water.
If you want to have your water tested for lead, contact an EPA-certified laboratory at www.epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/Documents/chemlabs.pdf. For assistance with other lead concerns, you can contact your local health department or The National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-5323.
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Copyright © 2005 City of Cleveland - Division of Water. All rights reserved.
Creative Works, Inc. - Cleveland, Ohio
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