Lead Awareness

The EPA established the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in 1991 to safeguard public health by controlling lead and copper levels in drinking water. On Jan. 15, 2021, the EPA introduced revisions to this rule to enhance protection, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children in schools and childcare facilities. The revisions focus on expediting lead service line replacements, lowering action levels for lead, and improving public awareness. For more information, visit the EPA’s website.

Yes, LAWCO’s water meets all safety standards. Check our latest Water Quality Report for details.

Homes built after 1988 should not have lead plumbing or service line materials. If you are unsure of your plumbing material, you can take the following steps to minimize exposure to lead:

• Flush your pipes. Flush your pipes if water has been sitting stagnant in the house for longer than six hours (first thing in the morning, coming home from work or vacation). Let the COLD water run until it turns noticeably colder, about two minutes. This water can be collected and used to water plants or landscapes. Flushing the toilet a few times, taking a shower and/or running a load of laundry would also be sufficient.
• Always use cold water to drink, cook and do things like make coffee or baby formula. You cannot boil lead out of water.
• Regularly clean faucet aerators/faucet screens. Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water. 
• Use a filter. Install a water filter that is designed and certified to remove lead (click here for details). The EPA recommends purchasing ANSI/NSF 53 approved water filters.

For more information, view these tips from the EPA.

• Lead: Lead lines are made out of lead pipes.
• Non-Lead: Non-lead lines are any service line that is known to be safe, this can include PVC.
• Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR): Galvanized pipes are steel pipes coated with zinc to prevent rust and deterioration. A galvanized plumbing or service line by itself is not a concern. To be a GRR the galvanized plumbing line must have been downstream of a lead service line.
• Unknown: Unknown waterlines indicate that there is little-to-no known data about either the water company-owned service line or the customer-owned plumbing line. These lines will be evaluated by the water company to determine material and if needed a replacement plan. In the meantime, you may wish to call a certified plumber to verify material or check your pipes using guidelines from the EPA. You can also check any previous home inspection reports to see what’s listed for plumbing material. Please report back any findings so we can update our inventory. Contact us at LeadInfo@louisianawater.com.

Galvanized pipes are steel pipes coated with zinc to prevent rust and deterioration. A galvanized plumbing or service line by itself is not a concern. To be a galvanized requiring replacement (GRR), the galvanized plumbing line must have been downstream of a lead service line. Given that a GRR is related to the plumbing line, it will be the responsibility of the property owner to replace.

• Flush your pipes. Flush your pipes if water has been sitting stagnant in the house for longer than six hours (first thing in the morning, coming home from work or vacation). Let the COLD water run until it turns noticeably colder, about two minutes. This water can be collected and used to water plants or landscapes. Flushing the toilet a few times, taking a shower and/or running a load of laundry would also be sufficient.
• Always use cold water to drink, cook and do things like make coffee or baby formula. You cannot boil lead out of water.
• Regularly clean faucet aerators/faucet screens. Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
• Use a filter. Install a water filter that is designed and certified to remove lead (click here for details). The EPA recommends purchasing ANSI/NSF 53 approved water filters.

According to the EPA, there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.

Some communities across the U.S. have had issues with elevated lead in their drinking water. There are many contributing factors as to why these communities experienced issues, and often times, it was due to a lack of corrosion control in the drinking water coupled with aging infrastructure, which allowed lead to seep into the water. LAWCO has optimized corrosion control and treats its water according to federal standards and laws. Additionally, while lead was officially banned in Louisiana in 1988, it fell out of favor much earlier, so we anticipate very few lead service lines in our water system.

Often parish health departments will help you test for bacteria or nitrates. If you are concerned about potential lead exposure and would like to test your water then you can contact a certified laboratory. You can find one in your area by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.

Learn more about water testing here.