Lead Reduction Program
Introduction
Lead and copper enters drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) revised the lead and copper rule with the goal of reducing the risks of lead exposure for children and communities by improving protection of children at schools and childcare facilities, getting the lead out of our nation's drinking water, and empowering communities through information. Visit the EPA’s website for more information: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
Veolia is committed to protecting residents and families from lead through our comprehensive Lead Reduction Program.
Lead Reduction Program Update
Lead in drinking water is primarily introduced from lead service lines (the pipe that runs from the main in the street to an individual home or business) or home plumbing materials and components which contain lead. Veolia has taken and continues to take extensive steps to protect water in homes and businesses that may contain lead components. These steps include treating the water to minimize the amount of lead that may be released into the water, and performing water quality monitoring at our sources, throughout the distribution system, and within customers’ homes to ensure the treatment is effective and that all water quality standards are met.
Please visit https://mywater.veolia.us/water-in-my-area/water-quality-reports to learn more about treatment provided to your water and to view the most recent testing results.
Self Identify Survey
In order to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision under 40 C.F.R. § 141, Subpart I, a record is required of the service line material inside your home. The service line is the pipe that carries water from the water main in the street to your home or business. You can help US keep YOU safe by completing this 5 – 10 minute survey to determine your water service line material.
We have created a simple survey that will walk you through the steps of identifying your service line material. Click on the button below to fill out the self identify survey. Before submitting the survey, please attach a picture of your service line material using the upload tool.
Click here to access the survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2e79fbf508b94bb8925996aa5f9827ac
If you have questions regarding the survey or need assistance completing it, please contact one of our Customer Service Centers:
Tioga County, New York - (800) 694-7512
Westchester County, New York - (877) 266-9101
Rockland, Orange, or Putnam County, New York - (877) 426-8969
Rhode Island - 401-789-0271
You can read our Privacy Notice by clicking the following link: https://www.veolianorthamerica.com/privacy-notice
Exposure in the Home
Lead paint, lead dust, and contaminated soil are the most common sources of exposure to lead. Lead can also enter the tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials in your home. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solder since the federal ban only went into effect that year. Homes built after the federal ban have "lead-free" plumbing but may still have traces of lead.
Health Effects of Lead
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.
Although most lead exposure occurs from contaminated dust, soil, or paint, the USEPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure may come from drinking water. Lead is rarely found in the source of your drinking water, but enters tap water by corrosion of materials containing lead. Where present, lead service lines are typically the most significant source of lead in the water.
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free” may still contain a small percentage of lead. The law currently allows end use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 0.25 percent lead to be labeled as “lead free”. However, prior to 2011, “lead free” allowed up to 8 percent lead content of the wetted surfaces of plumbing products including those labeled as National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified. Visit the NSF website at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and take appropriate precautions.
When water stands in lead service lines or plumbing systems 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 if the water has not been used all day, can contain higher levels of lead.
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water
- Run the cold water to flush out lead. Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in the faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The longer the water resides in plumbing, the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means running the cold-water faucet. Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your health. It usually uses less than a gallon of water.
- Use cold, flushed water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Because lead from lead-containing plumbing materials and pipes can dissolve into hot water more easily than cold water, never drink, cook, or prepare beverages including baby formula using hot water from the tap.
- Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead; however, it is still safe to wash dishes and do laundry. Lead will not soak into dishware or most clothes.
- Use alternative sources of treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing a water filter. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters.
- Determine if you have any interior lead plumbing or solder. If your home/building was constructed before 1986, it is important to determine if interior lead solder or lead pipes are present. You can check yourself by completing the self identify survey here, hire a licensed plumber, or check with your landlord.
- Replace plumbing fixtures and service lines containing lead. Replace brass faucets, fittings, and valves that do not meet the current definition of “lead free” from 2011 (as explained above). Visit the NSF website at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures. If you are planning to replace your lead service line, contact Veolia Customer Service at (877) 426-8969.
- Remove and clean aerators/screens on plumbing fixtures. Over time, particles and sediment can collect in the aerator screen. Regularly remove and clean aerators screens located at the tip of faucets and remove any particles.
- Test your water for lead. Testing is essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water. To find a list of certified potable water testing laboratories in your state, visit https://www.epa.gov/dwlabcert/contact-information-certification-programs-and-certified laboratories-drinking-water and scroll to the map with the associated search feature.
- Have an electrician check your wiring. Grounding wires from the electrical system attached to pipes can increase corrosion. Check with a licensed electrician or your local electrical code to determine if your wiring can be grounded elsewhere.
- Water softeners and reverse osmosis units will remove lead from water but can also make the water more corrosive to lead solder and plumbing by removing certain minerals. The installation of these treatment units at the point of entry into homes with lead plumbing should only be done under supervision of a qualified water treatment professional.
AWWA: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqFHrae92OM
For more information about the Lead and Copper Rule in New York, please visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/
For more information about the Lead and Copper Rule in Rhode Island, please visit: https://health.ri.gov/water/about/lead/