NEW GLARUS - In 2013, the village of New Glarus reported water samples that had lead totals that exceeded the national allowable amount.
However, Jason Borth of the New Glarus Waterworks pointed out the main water supply was never the problem - instead it was a problem with a home's plumbing in one case and testing method in another.
"I've been here since 1995, and we have had no exceeding of lead levels at all," Borth said.
New Glarus reports 10 readings from residences to the Department of Natural Resources and to the Environmental Protection Agency. These are self-reported samples acquired from homeowners themselves, who are meant to follow directions on how to take water from the tap to be analyzed. New Glarus has been conducting these tests since 1993. The allowable amount of lead cannot exceed 15 parts per billion, or 0.015 milligrams per liter of water. Despite the generally constant tests roughly every three years, two separate homes conducted tests with problems.
The first had frozen pipes as the result of a furnace that had died. Because the pipes were not copper, once frozen, their lead line expanded. This released more lead into the home water supply. Borth said copper pipes are recommended to replace aged plumbing, and once the owner was informed of the test results, the aging pipes were replaced.
The second home had been vacant, though the city had not been informed. Borth said because a number of residents in the village are "very conservative" in their water use, his department was unaware the residence sat empty for a number of months. The homeowners agreed to a test but did not follow the instructions to first run tap and then draw from it after it had not been used for six hours. Instead, Borth said, the water was taken after a number of days had passed.
New Glarus Waterworks services village buildings including the school system and the fire department as well as homes within the village. After the 2013 results, Borth conducted 20 sample tests every six months per request by the DNR, and New Glarus is now back on schedule.
"New Glarus water is safe," Borth said. "People should know it is safe to drink."
Recently, the village tested at 1.7 parts per billion. Borth said the village continues testing at the same residences to monitor changes in water composition, and that he has tested the home which had been vacant himself after the issues with the 2013 sampling.
Nearly 1,400 water systems serving 3.7 million U.S. citizens across the country have violated the federal lead standard at least once since Jan. 1, 2013. Though it is anticipated water would contain a certain amount of contaminants, the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have agreed there is no safe level of lead, and that is harmful to a person's health, especially children.
However, Jason Borth of the New Glarus Waterworks pointed out the main water supply was never the problem - instead it was a problem with a home's plumbing in one case and testing method in another.
"I've been here since 1995, and we have had no exceeding of lead levels at all," Borth said.
New Glarus reports 10 readings from residences to the Department of Natural Resources and to the Environmental Protection Agency. These are self-reported samples acquired from homeowners themselves, who are meant to follow directions on how to take water from the tap to be analyzed. New Glarus has been conducting these tests since 1993. The allowable amount of lead cannot exceed 15 parts per billion, or 0.015 milligrams per liter of water. Despite the generally constant tests roughly every three years, two separate homes conducted tests with problems.
The first had frozen pipes as the result of a furnace that had died. Because the pipes were not copper, once frozen, their lead line expanded. This released more lead into the home water supply. Borth said copper pipes are recommended to replace aged plumbing, and once the owner was informed of the test results, the aging pipes were replaced.
The second home had been vacant, though the city had not been informed. Borth said because a number of residents in the village are "very conservative" in their water use, his department was unaware the residence sat empty for a number of months. The homeowners agreed to a test but did not follow the instructions to first run tap and then draw from it after it had not been used for six hours. Instead, Borth said, the water was taken after a number of days had passed.
New Glarus Waterworks services village buildings including the school system and the fire department as well as homes within the village. After the 2013 results, Borth conducted 20 sample tests every six months per request by the DNR, and New Glarus is now back on schedule.
"New Glarus water is safe," Borth said. "People should know it is safe to drink."
Recently, the village tested at 1.7 parts per billion. Borth said the village continues testing at the same residences to monitor changes in water composition, and that he has tested the home which had been vacant himself after the issues with the 2013 sampling.
Nearly 1,400 water systems serving 3.7 million U.S. citizens across the country have violated the federal lead standard at least once since Jan. 1, 2013. Though it is anticipated water would contain a certain amount of contaminants, the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have agreed there is no safe level of lead, and that is harmful to a person's health, especially children.