Summary of Community Meeting on Lead March 3, 2004

(Fact:  The source of D.C.'s water is the Potomac River)

Update on Public Meeting on Lead from Councilmember Patterson March 3, 2004
 
 Well over 100 people attended WASA's community meeting last night at the
 Palisades Library.   WASA representatives included Jerry Johnson, General
 Manager and Michael Marcotte, Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer. Dr.
 Daniel Lucey, interim medical examiner for the DC Dept of Health (DOH) and
 Dr. Lynette Stokes, Chief of the DOH Bureau of Hazardous and Toxic
 Substances also attended. Mr. Marcotte explained that many of the estimated
 23,000 houses with lead service lines were built in the early 1900's, 1930's
 and during a WWII copper shortage. The pipes in question are largely
 residential service pipes under 2 inches in diameter. WASA is sending
 letters this week to all customers who have lead service lines. Top priority
 for replacing lead service lines will go to homes with elevated lead levels
 where there are children under 6, pregnant women or other health needs. WASA
 had planned to replace 1600 service lines this year and its Board of
 Directors has given approval to replace an additional 500 lines. WASA said
 its normal procedure is to let people know 45 days before they plan to do
 the actual work so property owners can decide if they want to have WASA or a
 private plumber also replace pipes on the homeowners' property at the same
 time WASA replaces its lead service lines to individual homes. Homeowners
 are responsible for the cost of replacing the pipes on their property.
 
 If water in a residence has not been used for 6-8 hours, WASA still
 recommends running the main drinking faucet for approximately 10 minutes
 before using. This moves the water around in the service lines and water
 resting in pipes in the house. Let water run at least one minute from other
 faucets. Pets can suffer from lead and should be given fresh water only
 after running the faucets. WASA officials also said homeowners can reduce
 the need to run faucets for a full 10 minutes by taking a shower, doing a
 load of wash and flushing a toilet a few times to move the water in the
 service lines. WASA also has taken third samples from 97 previously tested
 homes. Marcotte said test results are expected by the end of the week. If
 these tests show that lead levels are reduced, WASA says that running water
 for 10 minutes may be effective in reducing lead levels.
 
 
 WASA officials also said they plan to have a recommendation in the next 90
 days on whether other compounds such as phosphates should be added to the
 water. Following that decision, WASA plans a test of 60-90 days and will
 make a recommendation on whether a permanent change is needed by fall. In
 response to a neighborhood request, Dr. Stokes said DOH would have a mobile
 lead test van at Hardy Recreation Center at Foxhall Road and Q Street, NW on
 March 20, 2004. DOH also said there is no high risk to bathing young
 children in tap water or using tap water in humidifiers.
 
 by Penny Pagano