Kentucky gears up to replace lead pipes
Kentucky residents are being notified about their lead water pipes that could be posing a health danger. According to an EPA report, around 40,000 service lines in the Commonwealth contain lead, and earlier this year the agency announced a new rule requiring drinking water utilities in all states to identify and replace lead pipes within ten years.
Dr. Leah Werner, family physician and assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University, said the federal change increases water sampling and transparency about lead between communities and local governments, and added that there are actions residents can take, too.
“People can also test their own water, and really the best way to do that is to look at your either your city government website, and beyond that, the government is mandated to help you with testing kits, but Home Depot and places like that also sell lead testing kits,” she explained.
The mailed notices from utilities will confirm whether or not a home relies on lead water lines, or if the piping materials is unknown, and if any pipes need to be replaced.
Werner added that if a family is concerned that they and their children may be exposed to lead, it’s important to visit a primary-care physician as soon as possible, who can also be a guide through the process of testing and treatment for lead exposure.
“Lead crosses the placenta, so that is really dooming a fetus before even being born, to the same sort of cognitive impairments and behavioral issues that children who are exposed to lead suffer,” Werner continued.
According to the CDC, exposure to lead can reduce IQ in children and be a primary driver to learning disabilities and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, permanently damage the brain and nervous system, and cause speech and hearing problems.
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