(File Photo of Water)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Aliquippa, PA) The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa (MWAA) recently completed lead and copper sampling within their service area that have confirmed lead service lines as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) at several locations. Results of this 2024 sampling found that there is an exceedance in the EPA Action Level for lead at five of the thirty-five sample locations. Elevated levels of lead can cause health problems that are serious, especially for pregnant women and young children. This is a repeat notice from
2024 and no additional elevated lead levels have been recorded since the 2024 testing.
According to a release from the company, here are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead in your water:
1. Run your water to flush out lead. Run water for 60 seconds to flush lead from interior plumbing or until it becomes cold or
reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking, if it hasn’t been used for several hours.
2. Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can
collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
3. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead
dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
4. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
5. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled water or a water filter.
Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org
for information on performance standards for water filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
6. Test your water for lead. Call us at 724-375-5525 to find out how to get your water tested for lead.
7. Get your child’s blood tested. Contact your local health department or health care provider to find out how you can get your
child tested for lead, if you are concerned about exposure.
8. Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead. New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as
“lead-free” may contribute lead to drinking water. Until 2014, the law allowed end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up
to 8% lead to be labeled as “lead-free.”