This notice contains important information about your drinking water. Have someone translate it for you or speak with someone who understands it.
This notification is being sent to all water consumers in the Town of Winthrop, however it is of greatest importance to homes that still have a full lead water service line, old plumbing fixtures, or lead solder still in place. During our most recent Lead Monitoring sampling round, our water system exceeded the lead drinking water action level at several locations. Winthrop routinely monitors for lead in water in homes with full lead service lines as they are more likely to have elevated lead levels. There are currently 323 homes throughout town that still have a full lead service line and 377 homes throughout town that have a partial lead service line. We are required to collect at least 20 samples from the group of full lead services semi-annually during the months of March and September. During the September sampling round, 22 of these higher risk homes were sampled and 4 had elevated lead levels. The results of these routine samples for lead gave a final combined 90th percentile calculation of 23 ppb. This level exceeds the lead action level of 15 parts per billion. This means that more than 10 percent of the lead samples collected were above the lead action level.
What does this mean for the residents of Winthrop?
Our system’s water mains that carry the water to you are made of cast and ductile iron piping, and therefore do not add lead to water. However, lead can get into tap water through the service line that connects your home to the water main if it is made of lead. Lead may also leach into your drinking water from old lead solder used to connect pipes in home plumbing, and from some older brass faucets and fixtures.
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.
What should I do to reduce my exposure to lead?
• Check whether your home has a lead service line. IF YOU DO, HAVE IT REMOVED. Please contact the Winthrop Water Department for more information about your home’s service line, how to have it removed, or for information about plumbing materials in your home that may contain lead.
• Use only cold, fresh water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold.
• Do not boil the water to remove lead.
• Contact your health care provider if you have any health-related questions or contact your local health department to find out if your child needs to be tested for lead.
What is our system doing?
Our public water system is taking the following actions to address the situation:
• The Town of Winthrop has committed to replacing 100 full lead services per year over the next four years to remove the 323 full lead service lines that remain in our distribution system. This program utilizes a municipal MWRA lead replacement loan program and the replacement is offered free of charge to the resident.
• The Town will continue our annual Lead Monitoring Program of 20 homes per year.
• The Town will continue to offer educational brochures on how to reduce lead exposure in your drinking water.
For more information, contact Steve Calla or Kathy Gutowski at 617-846-1341 or email any questions or concerns to [email protected] or [email protected]
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.