Safe Drinking Water - Lead | Louisiana Department of Health

All community and non-transient non-community water systems are required to sample for lead from consumers taps in accordance with the Lead and Copper Rule. Compliance is based off of a calculated 90th percentile value. This means utilities must ensure that water from the customer's tap does not exceed this level in at least 90 percent of the homes sampled. The current lead action level is 15 ppb. The Public Health goal for lead is 0.

Lead Health Effects

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 it 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 by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. 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, which may affect brain development.

Sources of Lead

The primary sources of lead exposure for most children are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated residential soil. Lead is found in some toys, some playground equipment, some children's metal jewelry, and some traditional pottery. Exposure to lead is a significant health concern, especially for young children and infants whose growing bodies tend to absorb more lead than the average adult. Although your home's drinking water lead levels were below the action level, if you are concerned about lead exposure, parents should ask their health care providers about testing children for high levels of lead in the blood.

Reducing Exposure to Lead

Run your water to flush out lead. If the water hasn't been used for several hours, run water to flush lead from interior plumbing or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking.
Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula.
Do not boil water to remove lead.
Look for alternative sources or treatment of water (such as bottled water or water filters).
Re-test your water for lead periodically.
Identify if your plumbing fixtures contain lead.

Homeowners concerned about lead should get their home tested. It is recommended to collect samples from a Certified Laboratory using Method 200.8.

Sampling Protocol

Sample kits are distributed by the State to the water system at the time of sampling event. The water system will contact the individual homes/businesses identified for sampling. After completion of sampling, all samples are analyzed by the State Laboratory located in Baton Rouge.

Office of Public Health Laboratory
1209 Leesville Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Guidance for Public Water Systems

Water system are required to distribute public education if their 90th percentile value is greater than 15 ppb. Lead consumer notices are provided to those individual who participated in the lead and copper sampling event. The consumer notice is intended to make the customer aware of their individual result.

Routine and Reduced Monitoring Forms for Lead

Tier Classifications
Form A - Log Sheet
Form B - Change of Location
Form C - Site Certification
Homeowner Instructions

Lead Public Education and Consumer Notices

The lead action level for community and non-transient non-community water systems has been set at 15 ppb (0.015 mg/L) by the USEPA. Compliance is determined based on a 90th percentile value.

Public Education

Community and non-transient non-community water systems that exceed the 15 ppb for their 90th percentile value must distribute public education to all of its customers and evalaute installation of corrosion control to reduce lead levels.

Below is an example brochure that water systems can distribute to their customers that contains information on lead and what consumers can do to prevent or lessen their exposure.

Lead Consumer Notices

Lead consumer notices are a requirement brought about by the Lead and Copper Short-Term Revisions. The water system is required to send a notice of results to consumers who participate in the lead and copper sampling program. Upon receiving the result from the State, the water system is required to distribute to its' participants the result for lead that was obtained as well as lead information for the homeowner or resident. Certification of the distribution of the consumer notices must be submitted to the State.

Lead Consumer Notice for Community water systems (CWS)

Lead Consumer Notice for Non-transient Non-Community water systems (NTNCWS)

Safe Drinking Water - Lead