California Code of Regulations › Title 22 - Social Security › Division 4 - Environmental Health › Chapter 17.5 - Lead and Copper › Article 7 - Public Education Program for Lead Action Level Exceedances › Section 64687 - Lead Public Education Program Content and Delivery

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Each system with a lead action level
				  exceedance shall conduct a lead public education program that includes delivery
				  of the following public education materials pursuant to subsection (d). Within
				  10 days after the period during which the program was required, the system
				  shall submit a letter to the Department demonstrating that it has delivered the
				  public education materials as required and include a list of all the
				  newspapers, radio stations, television stations, facilities and organizations
				  to which the system delivered the materials during the previous year.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), a
				  community water system shall include the following text in all of the printed
				  materials it distributes through its lead public education program:
(A) Introduction. The California Department
				  of Health Services (DHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and [insert
				  name of water supplier] are concerned about lead in your drinking water.
				  Although most homes have very low levels of lead in their drinking water, some
				  homes in the community have lead levels above the state and federal action
				  level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of
				  water (mg/L). Under state and federal law we are required to have a program in
				  place to minimize lead in your drinking water by [insert date when corrosion
				  control will be completed for your system]. This program includes corrosion
				  control treatment, source water treatment, and public education. We are also
				  required to replace the portion of each lead service line that we own if the
				  line contributes lead concentrations of 15 ppb or more after we have completed
				  the comprehensive treatment program. If you have any questions about how we are
				  carrying out the requirements of the lead regulation please give us a call at
				  [insert water system's phone number]. This brochure explains the simple steps
				  you can take to protect you and your family by reducing your exposure to lead
				  in drinking water.
(B) Health
				  Effects of Lead. Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in
				  lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery
				  porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your
				  health if too much of it enters your body. Lead builds up in the body over many
				  years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The
				  greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that
				  won't hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of
				  growing bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes into contact with
				  sources of lead contamination -- like dirt and dust -- that rarely affect an
				  adult. It is important to wash children's hands and toys often, and to try to
				  make sure they only put food in their mouths.
(C) Lead In Drinking Water
1. Lead in drinking water, although rarely
				  the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person's total
				  lead exposure, particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and
				  concentrated juices that are mixed with water. The U.S. Environmental
				  Protection Agency estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more
				  of a person's total exposure to lead.
2. Lead is unusual among drinking water
				  contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers
				  and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion,
				  or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system
				  and household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join
				  copper pipe, brass and chrome plated brass faucets, and in some cases, pipes
				  made of lead that connect your house to the water main (service lines). In
				  1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead,
				  and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials
				  to 8.0%. In California, a similar law prohibiting the use of both lead solder
				  and lead pipe was enacted in 1985.
3. When water stands in lead pipes or
				  plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may
				  dissolve into your drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the
				  tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon after returning from work or
				  school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
(D) Steps You Can Take in the Home to Reduce
				  Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water
1. Despite
				  our best efforts mentioned earlier to control water corrosivity and remove lead
				  from the water supply, lead levels in some homes or buildings can be high. To
				  find out whether you need to take action in your own home, have your drinking
				  water tested to determine if it contains excessive concentrations of lead.
				  Testing the water is essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in
				  drinking water. Some local laboratories that can provide this service are
				  listed at the end of this booklet. For more information on having your water
				  tested, please call [insert phone number of water system].
2. If a water test indicates that the
				  drinking water drawn from a tap in your home contains lead above 15 ppb, then
				  you should take the following precautions:
A.
				  Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time
				  the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The longer water
				  resides in your home's plumbing the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap
				  means running the cold water faucet until the water gets noticeably colder,
				  usually about 15 to 30 seconds. If your house has a lead service line to the
				  water main, you may have to flush the water for a longer time, perhaps one
				  minute, before drinking. Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water
				  through a portion of your home's plumbing system, you still need to flush the
				  water in each faucet before using it for drinking or cooking. Flushing tap
				  water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your family's
				  health. It usually uses less than one or two gallons of water and costs less
				  than [insert a cost estimate based on flushing two times a day for 30 days] per
				  month. To conserve water, fill a couple of bottles for drinking water after
				  flushing the tap, and whenever possible use the first flush water to wash the
				  dishes or water the plants. If you live in a high-rise building, letting the
				  water flow before using it may not work to lessen your risk from lead. The
				  plumbing systems have more, and sometimes larger pipes than smaller buildings.
				  Ask your landlord for help in locating the source of the lead and for advice on
				  reducing the lead level.
B. Try not
				  to cook with, or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve
				  more lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water, draw water from
				  the cold tap and heat it on the stove.
C. Remove loose lead solder and debris from
				  the plumbing materials installed in newly constructed homes, or homes in which
				  the plumbing has recently been replaced, by removing the faucet strainers from
				  all taps and running the water from 3 to 5 minutes. Thereafter, periodically
				  remove the strainers and flush out any debris that has accumulated over
				  time.
D. If your copper pipes are
				  joined with lead solder that has been installed illegally since it was banned
				  in 1986, notify the plumber who did the work and request that he or she replace
				  the lead solder with leadfree solder. Lead solder looks dull gray, and when
				  scratched with a key looks shiny. In addition, notify the California Department
				  of Health Services and your local environmental health department about the
				  violation.
E. Determine whether or
				  not the service line that connects your home or apartment to the water main is
				  made of lead. The best way to determine if your service line is made of lead is
				  by either hiring a licensed plumber to inspect the line or by contacting the
				  plumbing contractor who installed the line. You can identify the plumbing
				  contractor by checking the record of building permits which should be
				  maintained in the files of the [insert name of department that issues building
				  permits]. A licensed plumber can at the same time check to see if your home's
				  plumbing contains lead solder, lead pipes, or pipe fittings that contain lead.
				  The public water system that delivers water to your home should also maintain
				  records of the materials located in the distribution system. If the service
				  line that connects your dwelling to the water main contributes more than 15 ppb
				  to drinking water, after our comprehensive treatment program is in place, we
				  are required to replace the portion of the line we own. If the line is only
				  partially owned by the [insert name of the city, county, or water system that
				  owns the line], we are required to provide the owner of the privately-owned
				  portion of the service line with information on how to replace the
				  privately-owned portion of the service line, and offer to replace that portion
				  of the line at the owner's expense. If we replace only the portion of the line
				  that we own, we also are required to notify you in advance and provide you with
				  information on the steps you can take to minimize exposure to any temporary
				  increase in lead levels that may result from the partial replacement, to take a
				  follow-up sample at our expense from the line within 72 hours after the partial
				  replacement, and to mail or otherwise provide you with the results of that
				  sample within three business days of receiving the results. Acceptable
				  replacement alternatives include copper, stainless steel, and plastic pipes.
				  Partial replacement should avoid the creation of mixed piping systems and
				  include the installation of approved dielectric couplings at all dissimilar
				  metal interfaces.
F. Have an
				  electrician check your wiring. If grounding wires from the electrical system
				  are attached to your pipes, corrosion may be greater. Check with a licensed
				  electrician or your local electrical code to determine if your wiring can be
				  grounded elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the wiring yourself because
				  improper grounding can cause electrical shock and fire
				  hazards.
3. The steps
				  described above will reduce the lead concentrations in your drinking water.
				  However, if a water test indicates that the drinking water coming from your tap
				  contains lead concentrations in excess of 15 ppb after flushing, or after we
				  have completed our actions to minimize lead levels, then you may want to take
				  the following additional measures:
A.
				  Purchase or lease a home treatment device. Home treatment devices are limited
				  in that each unit treats only the water that flows from the faucet to which it
				  is connected, and all of the devices require periodic maintenance and
				  replacement. Devices such as reverse osmosis systems or distillers can
				  effectively remove lead from your drinking water. Since these treatments remove
				  dissolved minerals, water treated by these devices will have a greater tendency
				  to leach lead from brass faucets or fittings which the water contacts after
				  treatment. Some activated carbon filters may reduce lead levels at the tap,
				  however all lead reduction claims should be investigated. Be sure to check the
				  actual performance of a specific home treatment device before and after
				  installing the unit. The California Department of Health Services certifies the
				  effectiveness of home treatment devices. Only devices certified by the
				  California Department of Health Services to remove lead should be used for this
				  purpose.
B. Purchase bottled water
				  for drinking and cooking.
4. You can consult a variety of sources for
				  additional information. Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood
				  test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of
				  lead. State and local government agencies that can be contacted include:
A. [insert the name of city or county
				  department of public utilities] at [insert phone number] can provide you with
				  information about your community's water supply, and a list of local
				  laboratories that have been certified by the California Department of Health
				  Services for testing water quality;
B. [insert the name of city or county
				  department that issues building permits] at [insert phone number] can provide
				  you with information about building permit records that should contain the
				  names of plumbing contractors that plumbed your home; and
C. California Department of Health Services,
				  Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch at [insert the phone number] or the
				  [insert the name of the city or county health department] at [insert phone
				  number] can provide you with information about the health effects of lead and
				  how you can have your child's blood tested.
5. The following is a list of some state
				  approved laboratories in your area that you can call to have your water tested
				  for lead. [Insert names and phone numbers of at least two
				  laboratories].