LEAD POLLUTION? Letters sent to Punta Gorda residents raise concerns

PUNTA GORDA, Florida. More than 5,000 people living in Punta Gorda were notified by city officials that their water supply may contain lead or galvanized pipes.

Watch Fox 4’s Alex Orenchuk report on possible lead contamination in Punta Gorda’s water:

Letters sent to Punta Gorda residents raise concerns about lead contamination

Letters from the city say the service line connecting the home to the city water supply is made of an “unknown material” and “may be made from lead or galvanized pipe that was previously connected to lead.”

The letter states that “exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups.”

According to the letter, although there is no confirmation that the pipes are made of lead or galvanized material, children are encouraged to get tested to determine their blood lead levels.

Fox 4.

Tim Ritchie, a water quality advocate and founder of March Against Mosaics, received one of the letters.

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this is pretty scary,’ and then I continued reading the letter and it actually seemed quite ambiguous to me,” Ritchie said. “But I will tell you that I am honestly considering getting a blood test and asking them to test me for lead.”

City of Punta Gorda.

The letter outlines several ways residents can reduce the risk of lead exposure, including using a water filter certified to remove lead, cleaning the aerator, using cold water, draining the water before using it and testing it.

According to the city, 5,329 service lines are currently flagged as being made from unknown materials, and the letters are a way to keep residents informed while the city continues to comply with EPA regulations.

These rules include the Lead and Copper Rule Review (LCRR) and the newer Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which essentially require water systems to identify and replace all lead service lines within a 10-year period. period,” said the acting. City Manager Melissa Reichert said.

Several other municipalities across the country have sent out similar notices to residents, including Marco Island.

The city conducts ongoing inspections to inventory pipes and identify potential health risks.

Residents who did not receive a letter have their water pipes confirmed to be lead-free. Residents can check the status of their service line by CLICKING HERE.