Kemmerer and Diamondville residents recently received a notice from the Kemmerer & Diamondville Water and Wastewater Joint Powers Board (JPB) regarding potential risks associated with their water service lines. The notice is part of a federally mandated effort to address potential lead exposure in drinking water systems, in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). 

The JPB emphasized that any potential lead in the water system is not coming from the Water Treatment Plant. According to JPB Superintendent Brent McClarnon, the source of lead, if present, is likely from old service lines running between curb stops and residences, or from outdated pipes within homes that have not been upgraded.

McClarnon emphasized that the Water Treatment Plant does not add lead to the system and plays no role in introducing it.

The JPB provided practical steps for residents to minimize lead exposure. Recommendations to reduce lead exposure include using a certified water filter to reduce lead in drinking water, cleaning faucet aerators to prevent lead particles from accumulating, avoiding hot water for drinking, cooking, or preparing baby formula since lead dissolves more easily in hot water, and boiling does not remove it.

Running water for several minutes before use, especially after periods of stagnation, can also help reduce lead levels.

Residents were further encouraged to contact the JPB for details on construction or maintenance activities that might disturb service lines, test their water for lead, and consult a physician for blood tests to detect potential lead exposure.

Clarifications from the JPB were provided to address concerns raised by the notice. McClarnon reassured residents that the letter does not indicate the presence of lead in the water.

He explained that the notification was required under EPA regulations and emphasized that the board will replace water lines if lead is found between the curb stop and the main line.

McClarnon also noted that there is no history of lead in the JPB’s main water lines, pointing out that the size of the main pipes makes the use of lead materials structurally impractical. Furthermore, homes built in 1986 or later would not have lead pipes, as the federal government banned the installation of new lead pipes in public water systems that year. Older homes, however, may have outdated materials and should be checked.

Federal requirements and long-term plans related to the EPA’s LCRR mandate that all drinking water systems complete a Service Line Materials Inventory and identify any lead pipes. Systems must replace lead pipes within 10 years. Residents with unknown service line materials will receive annual notifications until their lines are verified and confirmed to be non-lead.

To assist homeowners, the EPA provides an online tool called Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead, offering step-by-step instructions to help identify lead pipes including determining what kind of metal the pipe is.

The site instructs to use a key or a coin to gently scratch the pipe and look at the color. If it is orange, or pale orange, it is copper. It further instructs if it is some shade of gray, scratch that section of pipe. If it is hard to scratch and a magnet sticks to the pipe, you may have galvanized steel pipes. If it is soft and a magnet does not stick, you may have lead pipes.

McClarnon said the JPB remains committed to transparency and safety, providing annual water quality reports and ongoing updates to residents. Looking ahead, notifications titled Notice of Unknown Service Line Material will continue to inform residents, with the first wave of letters sent out earlier this month.

McClarnon encouraged residents to inspect their water lines and reach out to the JPB with any concerns.

“If your line is copper or plastic, it’s safe to assume there’s no lead,” he said.

Residents can access additional resources and updates through the JPB website, ensuring the community stays informed and proactive about water safety.