Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 800 - Environmental Protection - Water Supply › Chapter NR 809 - Safe Drinking Water › Subchapter II - Control of Lead and Copper › Section NR 809.546 - Public education and supplemental monitoring requirements

Current through June 24, 2024
All water suppliers shall deliver a consumer notice of
					 lead tap water monitoring results to persons served by the public water system
					 at sites that are tested, as specified in sub. (4). If a public water system
					 that exceeds the lead action level based on tap water samples collected in
					 accordance with s.
					 NR
					 809.547, the water supplier shall deliver the public
					 education materials contained in sub. (1) in accordance with the requirements
					 in sub. (2). Water suppliers for public water systems that exceed the lead
					 action level shall sample the tap water of any customer who requests it in
					 accordance with sub. (3).
(1) CONTENT
				  OF WRITTEN PUBLIC EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR LEAD AND COPPER CONTROL.
(a)
Content for community water
				  systems and non-transient noncommunity water systems
. Water suppliers
				  shall include the following elements in printed materials, for example,
				  brochures and pamphlets, in the same order as listed below. In addition, the
				  language in subds. 1., 2., and 6. shall be included in the materials, exactly
				  as written, except for the text in brackets in those subdivisions for which the
				  water supplier shall include public water system-specific information. Any
				  additional information presented by a water supplier shall be consistent with
				  the information below and be in plain language that can be understood by the
				  general public. Water suppliers shall submit all written public education
				  materials to the department prior to delivery. The department may require the
				  water supplier to modify the language before the department approves of the
				  content of written public materials prior to delivery.
1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR
				  DRINKING WATER. [INSERT NAME OF public water SYSTEM] found elevated levels of
				  lead in drinking water in some homes or buildings. Lead can cause serious
				  health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read
				  this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking
				  water.
2. `Health effects of lead.'
				  Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from
				  drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys,
				  and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to
				  all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young
				  children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the
				  brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood
				  pressure can be affected, more than healthy adults at lower levels of lead.
				  Lead is stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. During
				  pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones while in utero,
				  which may affect the child's brain development.
3. `Sources of lead.'
a. Explain what lead is.
b. Explain possible sources of lead in
				  drinking water and how lead enters drinking water. Include information on home
				  and building plumbing materials and service lines that may contain
				  lead.
c. Discuss other important
				  sources of lead exposure in addition to drinking water, for example,
				  paint.
4. `Reducing lead
				  exposure.' Discuss the steps the consumer can take to reduce their exposure to
				  lead in drinking water.
a. Encourage running
				  the water to flush out the lead.
b.
				  Explain concerns with using hot water from the tap and specifically caution
				  against the use of hot water for preparing baby formula.
c. Explain that boiling water does not reduce
				  lead levels.
d. Discuss other
				  options consumers can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, such
				  as alternative sources or treatment of water.
e. Suggest that parents have their child's
				  blood tested for lead.
5. `Reasons for elevated lead levels and
				  water supplier response.' Explain why there are elevated levels of lead in the
				  public water system's drinking water, if known, and what the water supplier is
				  doing to reduce the lead levels in homes and buildings in this area.
6. For more information, call us at [INSERT
				  YOUR NUMBER] [(IF APPLICABLE), or visit our Web site at [INSERT YOUR WEB SITE
				  HERE]]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home or
				  building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at
				  http://www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider.