Lead exposure affects everyone, with infants, young children, and pregnant women especially vulnerable.
Lead seldom occurs naturally in water sources and most likely is caused by corrosion in lead service lines, lead solder, and brass fixtures.
Boiling water will not remove lead and may increase the concentration.
Lead cannot be absorbed through water contact with our skin.
Only use cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula and cereal.
Most important, flush your cold water tap if it had not been used for several hours. Always flush until the water runs cool to the touch. The longer the water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it could potentially contain.
Routinely disassemble faucet aerators and rinse them. Sediment and debris may contain contaminants.
Lead service lines were routinely installed until the 1940s. Most homes built before the 1980s have lead solder connecting copper pipe, and brass fixtures were not required to be lead-free until 2014.
The City of Eureka Springs is committed to the complete removal of all lead and asbestos-concrete piping from its Distribution System. As health concerns are identified during this program, consumers will be notified.
If you have knowledge or concerns that you have lead corrosion in your plumbing system, please contact The Eureka Springs Water Department at (479) 253-9600 for advice on the following:
- Finding an approved laboratory, as testing is the only way to know the severity of corrosion.
- When installing a water filter, it must be NSF/ANSI 53 approved and correctly maintained.
- When replacing lead service lines, as a partial replacement can cause increased lead levels and we strongly recommend complete replacement.
- When identifying the type and size of lines supplying water to your home.
- When determining the scope of needed plumbing upgrades.