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Your water service line was recently replaced. Small pieces of lead from a lead or galvanized service line can get trapped in your household plumbing after your water service line replacement. To remove any potential debris and minimize your exposure to lead in your water, it is important that you thoroughly flush your household plumbing before using the water. Make sure your icemaker and any other water-using appliances are turned off and do not use any hot water until after performing the Whole-House Flushing instructions below.
Whole-house Flushing Instructions
Before drinking or using water or making ice, flush all your COLD water faucets following these steps:
- Locate all cold water faucets in the house where you can run the water without the sink or tub overflowing. Include all sinks and bathtub faucets as flushing points. For showers attached to bathtubs, use the tub faucet as a flushing point and do not run water through the showerhead. If the shower is NOT attached to a bathtub AND the showerhead can be removed, include the shower as a flushing point. Set any home water treatment devices, like water softeners, to bypass mode.
- Remove aerators (screens) from faucets and remove showerheads.
- Beginning in the lowest level of the home, fully open the cold water faucets throughout the home.
- Let the water run for at least 30 minutes at the last faucet you open (top floor). All faucets should remain on during the flush.
- Do not consume tap water, open hot water faucets, or use icemaker or filtered water dispenser until after flushing is complete.
- Turn off each faucet starting with the faucets in the highest level of the home.
- Reattach faucet aerators and showerheads. Clean any debris from aerators before reattachment.
After the First Day’s Flush, Going Forward…
Repeat the Whole-House Flushing Instructions
Studies show that running quickly flowing water through a home’s plumbing every two weeks for three months after pipes have been disturbed by construction can lower lead levels in drinking water. Repeat the cleaning of your faucet aerators, too.
Flush Daily
If your water has not been used for several hours, such as overnight, turn the cold water on for a few minutes to bring in fresh water from the water main before consuming the water. This is recommended for any home but is especially important for homes with older plumbing that contains lead.
Filter Your Water
Please be advised that lead levels in your water may be elevated for up to six months following construction. The filter provided to you is certified to remove lead (NSF/ANSI Standard 53) and designed to last six months. Use the filter for all drinking and cooking water. Water is safe for showering and other uses. Follow manufacturer instructions for using and maintaining the filter.
Test Your Water
A free lead test kit will be mailed to you approximately three months after your service line was replaced. The test kit includes everything you need to collect a water sample from your home. It also includes a prepaid shipping label for you to mail your water sample to the certified laboratory to be tested for lead. You will then receive your test result in the mail.
Lincoln Water System has partnered with 120Water™ to support lead sampling and testing. For this reason, please be on the lookout for important mail displaying their logo. The free lead test kit will automatically be mailed to you from 120Water. If you do not wish to receive a test kit, please scan the QR code below or reach out to 120Water at (800) 674-7961 or Support@120Water.com. If you do not opt-out, you will receive a test kit in approximately 3 months.
You may still have plumbing that contains lead inside your home.
Removing lead service lines is a crucial step in reducing lead levels in water. However, your home’s plumbing may contain other sources of lead, including galvanized pipes, lead solder, and older brass fittings, fixtures, and faucets. Drinking water plumbing materials made in 2014 or after are considered lead-free by today’s standards. If your home has older plumbing, please read the following information about reducing your exposure to lead and the health effects of lead.
Additional Information About Lead
Follow these tips to reduce your exposure to lead from older plumbing materials:
- Run the tap for a few minutes before consuming the water to bring in fresh water from the water main.
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.
- Routinely remove faucet aerators (screens) and clean out any particles that may have accumulated there, especially if you have galvanized pipes.
- Consider filtering your water using a filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53. Use and replace the filter as recommended by the manufacturer.
Health Effects of Lead
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.
Other Sources of Lead
Lead is a metal found in the earth’s crust. It has been used in a wide variety of products including gasoline, paint, plumbing pipes, ceramics, solders, batteries, cosmetics, and ammunition. It is important to recognize the many ways by which a person can be exposed to lead including inhaling old paint dust, ingesting contaminated soil or food, and using items made of lead.
For More Information About Lead
For more information, call us at 402-441-7571 option 2. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider.
If you have any questions regarding health issues related to lead you may contact the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department at 402-441-8023. Public health nurses will help you and can refer you to useful medical resources.