New Installed Meters and the Potential Risks of Lead Contamination in your Water Supply. 

Hola Companeros 

Questions/Comments ?  Or how to get involved: rose@pilsenperro.org

As you all are aware of there has been wide array of  lead contamination in the area that have recently been detected. These contaminated areas  not only been exclusively present in soil  as in the Sangamon Corridor but it has also been been identified in the water supply of the area. This article will incorporate  reports highlighting the contamination issue,  the detrimental impacts of lead exposure, as well as in providing the certified tools and techniques  for curtailing the lead present in your water supply.

As for the recent research conducted by the EPA, it  displays and recapitulates  the potential contamination of drinking water in the area  due to the new water meter installments in Chicago, especially in the Pilsen community. This informed  statement has originally been emphasized through a  The Chicago Tribune report called “City fails to warn Chicagoans about lead risks in tap water”.  This report highlighted the  city’s officials negligence to notify community members about how “80%  of the properties in Chicago are hooked up to service lines made of lead”.  These are not the only potential hazards of being exposed for they have also found that the city has been utilizing defective  testing methods for testing  lead.

Apart from cautioning you about the potential lead contamination in the Chicago Area, it is also paramount that you understand the detrimental  impacts of being lead poisoned..

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  lead is known to cause an assortment of health problems that can range from abdominal pain, constipation, depression, irritability, and can lead to other health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility if the exposure is prolonged.

Questions/Comments ?  Or how to get involved: rose@pilsenperro.org

http://projects.seattletimes.com/2014/loaded-with-lead/assets/day3/graphic-lead-exposure.jpg 

One of the  precautionary methods that you can take in  preventing  further lead poisoning is by using water filters to treat your drinking water.The NSF has been helpful in that it has been providing the  public with recommended and certified leaf filters to successfully decrease the lead present in your drinking water.

The NSF recommended  water treatment  filters  range  as follows:

Pour-through pitcher/carafe

Faucet mount

Counter-top connected to sink faucet

Plumbed in to separate tap or to kitchen sink

Reverse Osmosis

-”NSF/ANSI 58 – this standard covers reverse-osmosis (RO) systems that use reverse pressure to reduce a wide variety of contaminants through a semi-permeable membrane. These types of systems will often also include carbon pre and/or post-filters.”- Water Quality Association

When in the selecting process of water filters, it will also be important to note that a treatment filter will vary due to the technology as well as in installation location in your home. You can select water treatment  systems selections based on these distinct factors listed in this website:http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/what-is-nsf-certification/water-filters-treatment-certification/selecting-a-water-treatment-system

Once the preferred filters are installed it  is also important to note the service cycles or the amount of time that these products need to be changed.   The change cycles should also vary depending on the level of contamination in water that you are treating.  The filters should also contain details on the filter capacity that might affect the change cycles.

If you are looking for a specific to identify if your water filter product is certified confirm in the NSF website below: http://info.nsf.org/Certified/Lead_Content/

Some of the certified water filter products brands range as follows:

Aquasana, Inc.

Austin Springs

Doulton Water Filters

There are also many more brand products that you can verify in the NSF consumer guide website below!

http://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/listings_leadreduction.asp?ProductFunction=053%7cLead+Reduction&ProductFunction=058%7cLead+Reduction&ProductType=&submit2=Search

 Visual Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System:

For a  free and simple-to-use water quality test kit to determine if your water is contaminated with lead you can  access the  Chicago Water Quality website below:  http://www.chicagowaterquality.org/

Resources that can assist you further:

        U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline   

         Web: www.epa.gov/your-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-hotline

                                          Phone: 1-800-426-4791

               NSF International

                                        Web: www.nsf.org/info/leadfiltrationguide

                                       E-mail: info@nsf.org

                                       Phone: 1-800-673-8010

For more Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips you can also access the City of Chicago’s website listed below:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdph/supp_info/food_environ/childhood_lead_poisoningpreventionandhealthyhomesprogram.html

Hasta Luego Amigos!

Sinceramente,

Christina Vi