Does California Have a ‘Lead in Drinking Water’ Problem?

More testing and proper lead service line replacement is needed throughout the state.

It has been nearly eight years since the Flint water crisis and yet we continue to see how lead-contaminated drinking water threatens human health and disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities across the country. As headlines of lead in drinking water continue to make news in the Midwest and in northeastern cities, it may be surprising to some to learn that right here in California, we have our own issues with lead in drinking water as well.

In 2016, Fresno residents were concerned about “rusty, discolored water” coming from their pipes. Nearly 14% of children tested in one Fresno neighborhood had reported high lead levels, 25% of schools in Fresno reported finding lead coming from their drinking water fountains, and 40 homes had lead levels above the federal limit. Expanded testing found an additional 300 homes had lead coming from their faucets, leading to class action lawsuits. Fresno found that lead was leaching into their water through corroding and unwrapped galvanized pipes.

Health experts agree that there is no safe level of lead, which means any level is dangerous.

Lead is a heavy metal that can leach from old, corroded plumbing and cause serious damage that affects the nervous system, cognitive ability, fertility, and more. Health experts agree that there is no safe level of lead, which means any level is dangerous. Water systems cannot continue to neglect their aging water infrastructure and wait for another crisis to strike. The irreversible damage that lead exposure can cause makes it imperative for water systems to replace lead service lines now and ensure safe drinking water for its residents before it is too late.

Lead-contaminated drinking water is not unique to just these cities. A NRDC study found that 186 million Americans drank water from drinking water systems that detecting lead levels exceeding the level of 1 part per billion (ppb). Another analysis by NRDC found there are up to 12 million lead service lines in the United States, while EPA estimates as many as 10 million.

Although the information on where the lead service lines are in our drinking water systems is incomplete and lacking, it has become increasingly clear that lead plumbing is a problem across the country, including California.

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Full article: Does California Have a ‘Lead in Drinking Water’ Problem?