Safe Lead Levels Found in Water

A five-month sampling of water supplies has found safe levels of lead and copper in South Gate homes, according to the city water department.

The tests, conducted from June through October, found that the metals content in all water samples taken from homes with copper- and lead-soldered plumbing was less than 5 micrograms, the maximum contaminant level allowed under federal guidelines. The samples were taken under a 1991 federal Environmental Protection Agency regulation requiring water suppliers to measure copper and lead levels in home water.

“The tests look very good in my opinion,” said a city water department official who asked not to be named. The results of the tests will be formally released later this month, the official said.

High levels of lead in drinking water can interfere with physical and mental development of children, and large doses of copper can cause liver and kidney damage, according to the EPA.

The EPA banned the use of lead and copper solder for water pipes in 1986. Under EPA guidelines, lead and copper levels are measured in micrograms from a sample of one quart of home drinking water. If lead and copper deposits reach or exceed five micrograms, water is considered unsafe.

With a population of 86,386 residents, the city was required to test drinking water from 60 homes. Officials tested water at homes where plumbing was installed or replaced between 1982 and 1986.

The testing cost the city an estimated $1,200, the water department official said.

The EPA recommends using only cold water for cooking and drinking to reduce the risk of lead or copper contamination. Hot water is more likely to contain the contaminants.