The following links contain information on lead and steps you can take to limit your exposure:
- From the Washington Department of Health
- From the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Vinland Corrosion Control Study
Customers concerned about lead in their drinking water can take a few simple precautions to limit any potential exposure to lead:
- Only drink from the cold water tap. Hot water can leach more minerals from your plumbing.
- If the water has been unused for a period of time, flush off the "stagnant" water before taking a drink. Running the cold water tap until the water becomes noticeably colder ensures water that has been sitting in your household plumbing has been flushed off.
More common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint in older homes, contaminated soils, and dust. Read about all sources of lead exposure and how to minimize exposure on the Environmental Protection Agency's website.
We anticipate having operational recommendations by the end of March, 2020. We will keep customers updated as the study progresses.
Update April 2022: Design is nearing completion and treatment systems installation is on schedule for summer.
Update February 2022: The Preliminary Design Report is currently being reviewed by KPUD staff and once finalized will be sent to DOH for approval. Upon approval corrosion control treatment systems will be installed and operational by June 2022.
We cannot test every house for lead. Customers of the Vinland Water System who wish to test their own homes; however, can get reimbursed for laboratory costs for one sample analyzed for lead. Kitsap PUD has negotiated a special rate with Spectra Labs for customers who wish to test their household water for lead. The cost for lead analysis is $18. Instructions for collecting a sample and submitting for reimbursement: Homeowner Lead Sampling Instructions (PDF)
The federal Lead and Copper Rule dictates the sites for in-house testing. We must comply with the requirements of the rule. Lead-free plumbing laws were enacted in the U.S. beginning in 1986. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that homes built prior to 1986 are more at risk from lead leaching from in-house plumbing. Homes built after 1986 are far less likely to have lead plumbing components and, therefore, have a significantly reduced risk of lead leaching. By regulation, Kitsap PUD is required to sample – to the extent possible – only from homes built between 1983 and 1986.
The Corrosion Control Study mainly consists of additional water quality sampling and analysis. In addition to the source water samples linked to above, we will take additional water quality samples in the distribution system (Distribution system results: Vinland Corrosion Control Study Distribution Samples (PDF)). These results will be analyzed by our District Engineer and staff from Washington Department of Health to see if any operational adjustments can be made to render the water potentially less corrosive. Further, we will be conducting a round of in-house testing in January and July 2020.
Update October 2020: The January round of lead and copper sampling only had 4 sites exceed the Action Level for lead (15 parts per billion). This was not an exceedance for regulatory purposes. In July, 7 sites exceeded the Action Level for lead. As this was over 10% of sampled homes, it qualified as a regulatory exceedance. In a letter sent to Vinland Water System customers, it was incorrectly stated that in July, 6 sites exceeded the Action Level. This was incorrect. In fact, 7 sites exceeded the Action Level. We apologize for the error.
While we know that lead is not present in the source waters that serve the Vinland Water System (Test results: Vinland Corrosion Control Study Source Samples (PDF)), it might be leached from household plumbing under certain conditions, especially if the water has been sitting unused for extended periods of time (known as a “stagnation” period). This, primarily, applies to homes built prior to 1986. In 1986, the U.S. began enacting lead-free plumbing laws that limit the use of lead-containing components in household plumbing. Consequently, homes built after 1986 are less likely to contain lead and are less likely to have lead leachate in their tap water. Because of this, the federal Lead and Copper Rule requires us to sample – to the extent possible – only from homes built between 1983 and 1986. As part of our regulatory requirements, we are required to sample inside a representative number of these homes under “stagnation” conditions to see if lead or copper is being leached from household plumbing. In 2019, 5 sites on the Vinland Water System tested above the so-called “action level” for lead. This requires us to conduct a Corrosion Control Study. A Corrosion Control Study will help determine operational adjustments (additional treatment, use of one source over another, etc.) that might make the water less likely to leach minerals from household plumbing.
Update April 2022: Design is nearing completion and treatment systems installation is on schedule for summer.
Update February 2022: The Preliminary Design Report is currently being reviewed by KPUD staff and once finalized will be sent to DOH for approval. Upon approval corrosion control treatment systems will be installed and operational by June 2022.