SWAMPSCOTT — The Water and Sewer Department issued a warning statement to all residents regarding the quality of their drinking water, claiming that it may be contaminated with traces of lead.
In the statement, which community members received by mail, the department highlighted how the residents’ service line — the water pipe that connects their homes to the water main — is constructed of an “unknown” material which could possibly contain traces of lead.
To try and combat the issue at hand before it avalanches into a bigger problem, the town provided information on the health effects of lead and possible steps that residents could take to reduce exposure.
“There is no safe level of lead in drinking water,” the statement said. “Exposure can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants and young children.” The statement also added that exposure in adults can lead to a greater risk of heart disease, high blood-pressure, and kidney or nervous system problems.
Until the material used to make the service line can be determined, and once traces of lead, if any, are properly removed, the statement suggested a number of precautions residents could take to ensure their safety.
The first suggestion advised residents to run their water for at least one minute, or until it goes cold, to try and flush out any lingering traces of lead. According to the statement, levels of lead can increase over time as water sits in plumbing materials that contain lead. The town added that using water for non-drinking purposes first, such as laundry or bathing, can help reduce traces of lead.
The statement was also adamant that residents should not boil water to remove lead. Another suggested strategy was to use filters approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), which can help remove traces of lead.
Additionally, residents are urged by the town to identify and replace any plumbing fixtures in their homes that contain lead or any copper piping with a lead solder.
What makes this extra difficult, according to the statement, is that lead cannot be seen, tasted or smelled in drinking water.
Another critical point of information relayed in the statement was the necessity to have children tested for lead. It was noted in the statement that children are at higher risks of lead-poisoning. The town says parents should consult their children’s healthcare provider, or reach out to their local State Health Department.
The statement also emphasized that residents seek out testing for their homes.
“We’re asking that every resident reach out to the Department of Public Works (DPW) to have their systems tested,” Swampscott DPW Director Gino Cresta said. “What we’ll be doing is going out to each home and testing for lead ourselves, hopefully to start putting peoples minds at ease.”
