Notification about lead in water is precautionary measure

The City of Lawton took precautionary measures this week when it notified water customers their waterlines might contain lead.

The notice actually was designed to tell tenants that their water service lines (the waterline that runs between the water meter and the structure) is of an unknown material and while it is unlikely, that material may be lead.

The notification stems from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has mandated that cities across the nation produce an inventory of all water service lines, public and private, said Rusty Whisenhunt, director of the Public Utilities Department for the City of Lawton.

“The city has a good handle on what is on the public side, but the homeowner side is limited,” Whisenhunt said about what the city knows of waterlines, adding the EPA has required cities sent letters to their water customers if the private side waterline material is unknown. “This letter is only telling the home owner that their service and plumbing material is unknown. The language in the letter was mandated by the EPA.”

The EPA mandate gives cities three years to get the information for its service line inventory list. Whisenhunt said Lawton has started early-testing facilities (to include day care centers and public schools) and those tests showed the facilities did not have any lead issues.

City officials have said while they are following mandates, they don’t expect any surprises. Whisenhunt said Lawton has not had a positive lead violation in the last 30 years, and officials don’t know of any lead lines on the public side. The private side is unknown, which is why residents received the letter of notification this week, he said. He said lines most likely to fall within that category are those that are very old, adding that due to age, most lead lines have been replaced by homeowners during house remodeling projects.

The notification is not a mandate to replace the private lines.

“Not at this time, but the regulation is still evolving in that area,” Whisenhunt said, adding the City of Lawton keeps its water at a PH level that minimizes corrosion and helps keep lead from the private side from being in the water.

Current water testing in Lawton hasn’t revealed any areas where water has lead above allowed limits.

“If the home owner has any lead lines, the best way to aid in keeping the lead out is to turn your water on for about three minutes to flush the settling water out,” he said.

Whisenhunt said if a home was built before 1991, owners can call the Lawton water treatment plant at (580) 529-2703 to schedule an inspection and discuss concerns. Information also is available at leadserviceline@lawtonok.gov.