The city of Rathdrum, Idaho found elevated levels of lead during routine testing of the water system of three residences.
The sampling has been ongoing since 1998, but it wasn’t until the most recent testing of 23 homes in August that official found high lead levels. Three homes showed levels higher than the federal standard of 15 parts per billion, with highest one testing at 63 parts per billion.
Those findings prompted the city to send warning notices to water customers.
City Administrator Leon Duce says the lead was found in individual homes only and further testing indicated no contamination of the city’s water system.
“The city’s water, the source and distribution lines have never tested above the 15 parts per billion. So the water coming out of our system has been clean water with lower levels of lead and copper than what the federal government requires. But those houses built before 1996 may have copper and lead solder that can leach off into their water supplies,” Duce said.
Follow-up testing on two of the homes that tested above the federal threshold was conducted in November. More recent tests showed the homes to be back down to just three parts per billion. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality officials say there are unsure why the levels had dropped so much. Duce says it is possible the water in those homes not been run in some time before the first tests.
The city plans to increase the number of older homes it samples for lead in the next round of testing. It is also offering advice to homeowners on how they can reduce exposure to lead in their homes' water. You can find those recommendations on the city’s official website.
