NEWSRELEASE:November25,2015

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

Contact:SidHazelton,P.E.
Superintendent
AuburnWaterDistrict
7846469

AuburnWaterDistrictDiscoversLeadActionLevelExceedance

TheresultsofaroutineEPAmandatedleadsamplingprogram,performedbytheAuburn
WaterDistrict,indicatethatsomehomesinAuburnexceedthepublishedlimits.This
exceedancerequirestheDistricttopublishthefollowingfullEPAleadeducationtext.

Inadditiontopublicnotifications,theexceedancerequiresanexpandedtestingprogram.
Wemaymakechangestoourcorrosioncontroltreatmentprogramaswell.

Pleasetakethetimetoreadthefollowingpublicnotificationinformation.Call7846469
withanyquestions,orvisitourwebsiteatawsd.org.

LEADANDCOPPERRULE:LEADPUBLICEDUCATION

IMPORTANTINFORMATIONABOUTLEADINYOURDRINKINGWATER
Auburn Water District found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some
homes/buildings.Leadcancauseserioushealthproblems,especiallyforpregnantwomenand
young children. Please readthisinformation closelytoseewhatyoucandotoreduceleadin
yourdrinkingwater.

HEALTHEFFECTSOFLEAD
Leadcancauseserious healthproblemsiftoomuchentersyourbodyfromdrinkingwateror
other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the
production ofredbloodcellsthatcarryoxygen toallpartsofyourbody.Thegreatestriskof
lead exposure istoinfants,youngchildren,andpregnantwomen.Scientists have linkedthe
effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults withkidney problems and
high blood pressure can beaffected bylowlevels ofleadmorethanhealthyadults.Leadis
stored in thebones,andit canbereleased later in life.Duringpregnancy,the childreceives
leadfromthemother'sbones,whichmayaffectbraindevelopment.

SOURCESOFLEAD
Leadcanbe foundinmanyplaces. Knowing whereleadis canhelplimityourcontactwith
it. ThoughmostcasesofleadpoisoninginMainewerearesultofleadpaintdust,youcanbe
exposed to lead through drinking and cooking with waterthathas lead. Lead candissolve
into water from lead solderor brassfaucets,fittings, andvalves. Leadcan alsocome from

jobsandhobbiesthatworkwithleadorleadpaintaswellas fromthingsyoubuysuchastoys
andantiques.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKETOPROTECTYOURSELFFROMLEADINDRINKING

WATER
1) Run the water for at least 15 seconds or until it becomes noticeably colder before
usingitfordrinkingor cooking. The longer watersitsinpipingthemoreleaditmay
contain.
2) Do not drink or cookwith water from thehotwaterfaucet. Hotwatercandissolve
lead more quickly than cold water. If youneedhot water,usewaterfrom thecold
waterfaucetandheatitonthestoveorinthemicrowave.
3) Donotusewaterfromthehotwaterfaucettopreparebabyformula.
4) Boilingthewaterdoesnotreduceleadlevels.
5) Considerusingbottledwaterfordrinkingandcooking.
6) If you are concerned about lead, contact your health care provider or the Maine
ChildhoodLead PoisoningPreventionProgram(8662923474). Youcan askabout
havingyouoryourchildtestedforlead.

HOWLEADGOTINTOYOURWATER
Themostlikelyreasonleadisinyourwaterisbecauseitdissolved fromleadsolderoroutof
brass plumbingmaterials such as faucets,fittings,andvalves. TheAuburnWaterDistrictis
currently reviewing our corrosion control treatment to reduce lead leaching from our
customersplumbing.LeadhasnotbeendetectedinwaterfromLakeAuburn.

TOFINDOUTMORE
Ifyouhavequestions,callusatAuburn WaterDistrictorvisitourwebsite at awsd.org. To
learn other ways to protect yourself and your family from lead, visit EPAs website at
http://www.epa.gov/lead
.

TESTINGYOURWATER
To find out how you can get your water tested for lead, contact A&L Laboratory,
2077845354,orotherStateCertifiedLab.Yourcostshouldbeapproximately$25pertest.

LEADINPLUMBINGMATERIALS
Someplumbingmaterialsincludingsolderand brassfixturesmaycontainlead. Ifyouwant
to make changes to your plumbing, it is important to know that leadfree materials are
allowed to have upto0.2%lead(solder)or upto8%lead(fixtures). Some newerproducts,
includingthoselabeled forsaleinCaliforniaandVermont,maycontainmuchlowerlevelsof
lead.