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Is Your Water Safe ? Education for Parents about Lead Hazards in Drinking Water

Is Your Water Safe ? Education for Parents about Lead Hazards in Drinking Water. Walden University PUBH 6165-5 Ian Brundin.

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Is Your Water Safe ? Education for Parents about Lead Hazards in Drinking Water

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  1. Is Your Water Safe ?Education for Parents about Lead Hazards in Drinking Water Walden University PUBH 6165-5 Ian Brundin

  2. Alaska has a relatively small population for the area that we occupy and the continued use of private wells is by far the most cost effective option for most rural Alaskans But: • Is that water safe? • What is Lead? • How can it affect my family? • And, How can I reduce our exposure to it?

  3. The Alaska Lead surveillance Program, and the Center for Disease Control lead as a heavy soft bluish gray metal in pure form it naturally occurs in many forms and varying concentrations in the soil and bedrock. It is commonly used in fishing weights, tire balancing weights, as well as bullets, lead pipes and plumbing. Other commercial purposes for Lead is used in welding and soldering, and released from the earth during mining of gold, silver, zinc, and lead.

  4. CSREES, Pacific Northwest, Alaska Water Quality Program • Suggest allowing your water to run for 1-2 minutes to flush out lead, that may have leached out of the soldered joints of the plumbing, while water sits overnight or after a water faucet has not been used for several hours. • Also suggests testing water before buying a house.

  5. EPA safe water • The EPA safe water home page states, All of us need clean water to drink. We can go for weeks without food, but only days without water. Contaminated water can be a threat to anyone’s health, but especially to young children. • Lead has no known value to the human body, and is a heavy metal and considered Toxic to the body, especially to children and the nervous system. • There is no known safe level for children of any age who are still growing and developing their nervous systems, or for low dose exposure over long periods of time.

  6. CSREES, Pacific Northwest, Alaska Water Quality Program • The CDC requires reporting of blood lead levels grater than 10 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL), and has continued to stress that exposure should be minimized or avoided if possible. • More information on toxicity of lead available at http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/eh/lead/default.htm • offers a step by step guide to suggested testing schedules depending on your water source, problems you may look for or be experiencing, as well as best times of the year. http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/wq/wqpubs/cis873.html

  7. Situationsor problems that should require water testing for Lead Also Known As Pb: • Household water plumbing contains lead pipes, fittings or solder joints. • You are buying a home and wish to assess the safety and quality of the existing water supply. • Water has an objectionable taste or smell. • You live near a mining operation.

  8. Responsibility • If your drinking water comes from your own well, you alone are responsible for ensuring its safety. • Routine testing for a few of the most common contaminants is highly recommended, (Porter, Taylor, & Mahler 2002) • Even if your water appears currently to be pure and safe, regular testing and documentation can be valuable because it establishes a record of water quality.

  9. Testing frequencies are guidelines only, Test more often if you suspect a problem with the quality of your water supply. • Once each year, test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and total dissolved solids (TDS). The best times to test for these contaminants are during spring or summer following a rainy period. These tests also should be conducted after repairing or replacing an old well or pipes and after installing a new pump. • Every 3 years, test for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead, hardness and corrosion index. • If a new baby is expected in the household, it is a good idea to test for nitrate in the early months of pregnancy, before bringing the infant home and again during the first 6 months of the baby's life.

  10. Cost of water testing for home and well testing has become more affordable, can be purchased on line, and can be done at home. If problems with your water are still suspected you can contact a certified lab to confirm or pacify your suspicions. • Some Kits can be found online at: • www.filtersfast.com/Watersafe-Well-Water-Test-Filter-Kit.asp for $15.95 • www.h2okits.com/site/1286521/product/WS-425B for $19.95 • These are able to test for Bacteria, Lead, Pesticides, Nitrates, Nitrites, Chlorine, pH and Hardness • The EPA warns that FREE water tests are offered by companies who are more than likely trying to sell you a water treatment system if you need it or not.

  11. Contaminationof Public Water • Contamination of Public Water can occur after it enters your homeif your home has lead pipes or lead solder joints. • A list of certified testing facilities in and outside of the state, that can be found at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/lab/index.htm • Cost about $35.00 based on July 20, 2009 web search www.basiclab.com/homeowners/index.php

  12. References • Andrews, G. (updated October 2007) Oregon State University, Extension Service, website. Retrieved July 11, 2009 from http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/em/em8651-e/ • CDC. (2009b, April 10). Well maintenance. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/maintenance.html • CSREES, Pacific Northwest, Alaska Water Quality Program. Website http://www.pnwwaterweb.com/akwater/well_information.html • Dupage County Health Department, Homeowner's Guide For The Proper Care and Maintenance of Private Water Supply and Private Sewage Disposal Systems. Retrieved July 12, 2009 from http://www.dupagehealth.org/ehs/ws/fs/hg.asp • EPA, website, Drinking Water from Household Wells, Retrieved July 11, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/booklet/index.html • Porter, E., Taylor, R., & Mahler, R. (2002). University of Idaho, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Water Testing. Retrieved July 13, 2009 from http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/wq/wqpubs/cis873.html • Atherholt, T. B., Louis, J. B., Shevlin, J., Fell, K., & Krietzman, S. (2009, April). The New Jersey Private Well Testing Act: An overview. Retrieved July 14, 2009, from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/research/pwta-overview.pdf

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