In 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water went into effect. Lead or copper in tap water is primarily due to corrosion of plumbing system components within buildings. Plumbing components include copper pipes, lead-based solder used to join segments of copper pipe, and faucets made from brass that contains lead.

The rule sets action levels for lead and copper in standing samples collected from faucets with high risk for elevated lead and copper levels. The action level for lead is 15 micrograms per liter (µg/L) of water or 15 parts per billion (ppb). This compares to 1/10 of one teaspoon of sugar in 10,000 gallons of water. The copper action level is 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water or 1.3 parts per million (ppm).

The City of Salem routinely tests household taps to make sure that the levels for both lead and copper are below the acceptable limits.  In July of 2003 slightly more than 10% of the homes tested had elevated levels of lead.  Because the monitoring results for Salem's public water system exceed the action level for lead, the water system is conducting a public information campaign, and is working on source water treatment to control corrosion.

Subsequent and increased testing in January and July, 2004 showed the number of homes with elevated lead levels to fall below the action level.  Continued sampling and instillation of a corrosion control facility at the Geren Island Treatment Facility, due to be completed in 2005, will help keep lead levels well below the action level of 15 ppb.

To lower the levels of lead, flush your pipes before drinking and only use cold water for consumption. Anytime the water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, "flush" your cold-water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it will get. (This could take as little as five to thirty seconds if there has been recent heavy water use such as showering or toilet flushing. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer.) The more time water has been sitting in your home's pipes, the more lead it may contain.

Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. The two actions recommended above are very important to the health of your family. They will probably be effective in reducing lead levels because the lead in household water comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.

Oregon banned lead solder in 1985 and the EPA considers homes built between 1983 and 1985 a risk.

For more information call the Water Quality Hotline at 503-588-6323 or visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website at:

EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Web Site

To request a free lead analysis call 503-588-6323 and leave your name and phone number.