Residents in Iowa have been receiving letters about the potential presence of lead in their drinking water, leading to a surge in requests for water testing through the Get the Lead Out Iowa program. While receiving a letter does not necessarily indicate high levels of lead in the water, it is still a cause for concern.
Many cities, including Cedar Rapids, have been adding chemicals like zinc orthophosphate to prevent lead from leaching into the water supply for decades. However, recent revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule now require communities to remove lead service lines within 10 years, posing significant challenges due to the high costs involved.
Replacing a single service line can cost between $7,500 to $10,000, and with thousands of homes in Cedar Rapids alone needing replacements, the total project cost could reach millions of dollars. Despite the financial burden, experts believe that removing lead service lines is the right thing to do to ensure the safety of drinking water.
While there may be concerns about potential changes to regulations in the future, both city officials and experts like David Cwiertny emphasize the importance of testing water to determine if lead is present. Get the Lead Out Iowa is available to help with testing requests, and residents can also contact the State Hygienic Laboratory for assistance.
The recent spike in water testing requests highlights the growing awareness and concern around lead contamination in drinking water, prompting action from both residents and officials to address the issue.
Source
Photo credit www.kcrg.com