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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.29.23 AttachmentSign up for your FREE inspection. Call (920) 232-5336 oshkoshwater.com What’s Lurking in Your Lines? A Menacing Threat Could be on the Prowl. Know the Dangers of Lead in Drinking Water • Severe/permanent brain damage • Nervous system damage • Blood issues such as anemia • Abnormal kidney function/damage • Hyperactivity, learning disabilities • Hearing loss • Memory/concentration issues • Headaches, depression, mood swings • Fatigue, joint and muscle pain • Digestive issues, reduced appetite • Nerve issues, extremity numbness/pain • Fertility issues, miscarriage and reduced sperm count • Abnormal kidney function or damage • Elevated blood pressure How to Reduce Drinking Water Lead Exposure • Replace lead service line or use bottled water • Clean the faucet screen regularly • Use a lead removing water filter • Run water until cold prior to use to flush pipes • Use cold water for drinking and cooking (boiling does not remove lead) POTENTIAL LEAD SOURCES • WATER SERVICE LINES • SOLDER ON COPPER PIPES • PARTICLES ON GALVANIZED PIPES • PLUMBING FIXTURES • GOOSENECK & PIGTAIL PIPES Water Meter Lead Service Line CHILDRENADULTS City Main Line 7/12/2022 Harmful Effects of Lead Children Even low levels of lead in a child’s blood stream can result in:  Behavior and learning problems  Lower IQ  Hyperactivity  Slowed growth Pregnant Women Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time. It is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from bones as maternal calcium and is used to help form the bones of the fetus. This is particularly true if a woman does not have enough dietary calcium. Effects to the mother and developing fetus can be:  Premature birth  Slower growth of the fetus  Kidney complications  Increased blood pressure Lead Comes From Old Pipes and Fixtures Most Wisconsin drinking water sources, as well as Lake Winnebago, have little or no measureable lead. The source of lead in drinking water is most likely lead ser- vice lines or high lead content solder in the water sup- ply plumbing. Water dissolves lead from lead service lines or supply plumbing. The highest concentration of lead will be found after water has sat motionless for an extended period of time, most commonly overnight, when water is not being used. Lead is a common metal that is found throughout our everyday environment. It is most commonly found in lead‐based paint, air, soil, household dust and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your health, as it is neurotoxic, and can erode brain cells after it enters the body. If present at elevated levels, lead can cause serious health problems, espe- cially for pregnant women and young chil- dren. Check Your Home For Lead Pipes There are over 6,000 confirmed lead service lines currently being used in Oshkosh. Congress banned the use of pipes in new construction that contained lead in 1986. Homes built before this time may possibly contain lead service lines, lead solder, or lead fixtures. Get your service line checked for free. Schedule an appointment with the Water Utility to have your service line and interior plumbing sur- veyed completely free of charge. To Schedule, Call (920)232-5336 or scan the QR code below to schedule online. In the meantime, you can to easily identify the ex- posed plumbing in your home by following these quick tips: Found lead piping?  Flush your plumbing Before using tap water for drinking or cooking, run the cold water until it is noticeably colder. Do this if the water has been standing unused in your pipes for more than 6 hours, such as overnight. This will get fresh water from the water main under the street into your homes’ supply plumbing  Drink and cook only with water from the cold tap Never drink or cook with water from the hot water tap. Hot water dissolves lead from pipes.  Along with cooking, DO NOT use hot water to make baby formula Hot water will have more dissolved particles that may contain lead or other harmful contaminates that will be consumed by the baby if used to make formula.  Purchase a home filtration system Drinking water filtration systems or pour-through filters can reduce or eliminate lead. A list of filters capable of removing lead is provided at the National Science Foundation website: https://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/articles/lead- drinking-water  Replace your lead service line or interior plumb- ing as soon as possible This is the most effective and the only permanent solution to remove lead from your water. There may be government pro- grams available for financial assistance. 7/12/2022 The EPA has revised its lead and copper rule with intentions to reduce and eventu- ally eliminate lead in drinking water. The City of Oshkosh is working with the Wis- consin DNR to proactively prepare for these changes. Here are some of the things that Oshkosh is currently doing: Corrosion Control: The Water Filtration Plant is implementing a plan to highly op- timize the corrosion control treatment. This is to better protect our water from ab- sorbing metal from pipes. Distribution Sampling: Continuous mon- itoring of tap water throughout the com- munity to report to the DNR. Lead Service Line Inventory: The Water Utility is currently creating an-up-to-date catalog of all the lead service lines still be- ing used. Public Education: There are various lead education and outreach materials being developed and others already available on the Citys website or in physical form such as this brochure. Lead Service Line Removal: Publicly- owned lead service lines are being re- moved by the Citys Water Utility whenev- er street renovations are being performed. L e a d i n D r i n k i n g Wa t e r For more info about lead in drinking water: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/PublicWorks/WaterUtility.aspx For more information on lead directly from the EPA or CDC, go online to www.epa.gov/lead or www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/prevention/sources/water.htm Do you have a lead service line? Your Water Utility is required to monitor the levels of lead in some single-family homes with lead service lines twice a year on a voluntary basis. With approximately 6,053 confirmed active lead service lines in Oshkosh, being part of these monitoring periods allows you to protect yourself, as well as the Oshkosh community as a whole. Homes that are a part of these 6 month monitor- ing periods will have their lead levels tested free of charge twice a year and will have their results reported to the DNR, as well as to the homeowners themselves. The Water Utility will aid in solving high lead levels in individual homes, should lead levels above 15 parts per billion be found. Call (920)236-5251 for information on enrolling in these monitoring periods. What is Being Done About Lead in Drinking Water KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE. SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INSPECTION TODAY.Call (920) 232-5336 oshkoshwater.com WHAT’s LURKINGIN YOUR LINES? Lead in drinking water can cause severe and irreversible health effects in children and adults. Do you know what’s lurking in your water lines? Address Area Mailing Indicia A menacing threat could be on the prowl. Sign up for a FREE inspection to find out. oshkoshwater.com Lead is an invisible threat that can cause serious health issues. Do you know if it is lurking in your water lines? SCHEDULE A FREE INSPECTION. Call (920) 232-5336 oshkoshwater.com Cut A menacing threat could be on the prowl.