Mary Alice Reporting – Information is being shared about lead in a local village’s water supply and step residents can take to reduce exposure.
The report was issued by the Village of Tuscarawas has a recent routine monitoring of the private water system found elevated lead levels in 11 of the 20 water samples collected.
Precautions are recommended for those serviced by the Tusky supply. The Tuscarawas County health Department says exposure reduction includes run the tap for 30 seconds to flush out the lead before drinking or cooking, use cold water and not hot, since lead dissolves more easily in increased temperatures, replace plumbing fixtures if lead is found, or use a water filter.
Lead can enter a drinking water source when plumbing materials contain corrode or rust, and the most common sources include lead pipes, faucets and fixtures, and it’s mostly found in older communities and homes built before the mid-1980’s.
The village is working with the Ohio EPA to determine corrective steps.
Meanwhile, the Tuscarawas County Health Department is working to set up pop-up blood lead level testing sites in the near future. More details about lead exposure can go to www.epa.gov/lead.
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