The AP found that across the nation, almost 1,400 water systems that serve 3.6 million Americans have violated the federal lead standard at least once between January 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015.
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But for systems where the high levels of lead do infact exist, Souza said the state will continue to follow protocols outlined by the federal Lead and Copper rule while awaiting guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency. They included changes to the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act that will require water systems to inform customers more quickly about sampling results and lead problems.
According to the data, none of the water systems in Montgomery, Stewart or Houston counties have test results that are anywhere near the federal action level of 15 parts per billion.
America may be entering into a crisis as more and more of our water systems contain a high level of lead.
After AP inquiries, school Superintendent Ralph Grimm ordered lead sampling at 25 drinking fountains throughout Galesburg schools, which had not been tested for years, if ever.
The report states that it’s been happening for years.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been working with the daycare to find a solution, but for now, the center goes through gallons and gallons of bottled water. Only one public system, in the small western Missouri town of Waverly, is on the list.
The district did its regular testing in September 2012 at five locations specified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can damage child brain development and cause behavioral problems, and also can sicken adults. Stores such as Home Depot and Walmart also offer water testing kits under $20.There are also certified laboratories in Fayette and Boonville that test water.
The other water systems with samples above the rule include the Olympia Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Olympia, a federal ecological research facility, and Naval Magazine Indian Island, a Navy facility that supplies combat ships with munitions and services missile submarines. But the connection with water is unclear.
In New Mexico, officials hope reorganization of the Drinking Water Bureau will lead to more proactive oversight and keep any lead exceedances from falling through the cracks. That’s because the well that serves the daycare has reported some of the highest water lead levels in the state over the past six years, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Wieckowski, a Fremont Democrat, has introduced a bill that would increase permitting requirements for new public water systems.
Ryan DiGiulio of the Marysville Joint Unified School District north of Sacramento says three rural campuses are plagued with lead problems.
Republican Gov. John Kasich’s administration and the state’s EPA have proposed overhauling regulations on lead in drinking water.
To be sure, the source of most lead contamination is from metal in plumbing, either pipes or solder.
“That provides a barrier on the interior of pipes to prevent lead and copper from leaching into the water stream”, Caulfield said Wednesday. Unfortunately, the cost to replace all the water pipes would be too costly for numerous nation’s poorer citizens.
USA Today used EPA water enforcement data to identify systems that had not met the “very minimal standards that EPA has for lead in water”, Young explains.
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“We need performance standards to say if you do not perform this way, you get consolidated, you get gobbled up by somebody else”, he said.
