NAWC Proud To Support National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) is proud to support National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week October 23-29, organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). With the theme "Lead Free Kids for a Healthy Future," this year’s initiative focuses on the many ways parents can help protect their children from the serious health effects from exposure to lead, and includes an added emphasis on the potential of lead’s presence in drinking water.

Michael Deane, NAWC’s executive director, said National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is “an important reminder to be vigilant in testing your drinking water. Many older homes, schools, businesses and other properties have outdated lead service lines or lead solder that can result in lead entering into drinking water. Providing homeowners, businesses, and especially children, with clean, safe drinking water is the top priority for private water companies, and raising awareness of the potential for lead in drinking water is a responsibility we take very seriously.”

Each year by July 1, water utilities are required by the EPA to provide customers with water quality reports called Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) which explain where water comes from and what's in it. Additionally, rigorous testing by water utilities ensures lead is not present in treated water when it leaves the plant. However, lead levels in some homes and businesses might be detected due to lead pipes, lead solder and some plumbing fittings and metal faucets used in residential and commercial plumbing. Homeowners and business owners generally are responsible for pipes from utilities’ water mains or meters to the home or business.

We encourage individuals who are concerned about lead in their drinking water, or interested in learning more about testing for lead, to contact their water utility. For additional information, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

About The NAWC
The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) is the voice of the private water industry and the organization exclusively representing this group of quality water service providers, innovation drivers, creative financiers and responsible partners. For more information, visit NAWC.org.