Lead in DC Drinking Water

EPA Review of DC WASA Lead Data (01/21/09)

For the second half of 2008, the DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) has reported that water samples tested for lead are at or below the federal action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The 90th percentile lead value reported for the July to December 2008 monitoring period was 8 ppb. For information regarding routine steps residents should continue to take to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water, please see the Information for Consumers section.

Message from Acting Regional Administrator William C. Early

This site contains information on lead and related drinking water issues specifically for District of Columbia residents. Although lead levels have been below the action level for several monitoring periods, water quality monitoring and research continue.  The sections below highlight the status of these efforts.

• Elevated Blood Lead in Young Children Due to Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water: Washington, DC, 2001-2004 by Edwards et al. (2009): in Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 43, no. 5, p. 1618 (subscription may be required)
• WASA's 2007 Drinking Water Quality Report [PDF, 6pp, 716k, about pdf]
• Information for Consumers
• Water quality summaries from DC WASA
  • Total Coliform
  • Total Chlorine
  • Lead and Copper
  • Disinfectant Byproducts
  • Corrosion Control

Update on Lead in Drinking Water (January 2009)

Lead Monitoring Results and Status of Orthophosphate Treatment
In January 2009, EPA received WASA's most recent report on lead levels in DC drinking water.  WASA reported that 90 percent of the samples had lead levels of 8 parts per billion (ppb) or less, below EPA's lead action level of 15 ppb.  This is the eighth monitoring period in a row that WASA has met the lead action level.

Since August 2004, the Washington Aqueduct has been adding orthophosphate to the drinking water as a corrosion inhibitor. Orthophosphate is a tasteless, odorless, food-grade additive that is used by many water systems to control corrosion. It works by forming a protective coating inside pipes that decreases the amount of lead that leaches from lead service lines and customers' plumbing systems. OP was added to the entire DC distribution system beginning on August 23, 2004.

Compliance with Administrative Order
The May 2007 Administrative Penalty Order [7pp, 224k, about pdf] closed the 2004 Administrative Order. [35pp, 179k, about pdf] This table [18pp, 84k, about pdf] includes a list of Order requirements, deadlines, and the status of each requirement.

Lead Service Line Replacement
For more information on changes to the scope of WASA's LSL replacement program, please visit WASA's website. EPA encourages homeowners to replace the portion of the LSL on their private property and to contact WASA to find out about financing options.

Research

Members of the Technical Expert Working Group (TEWG) continue to meet by teleconference on a regular basis.  The TEWG consists of the Washington Aqueduct, DC WASA, the D.C. Department of Health, the District Department of the Environment, EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and multiple expert consultants hired by the various groups.  Originally formed in February 2004, the TEWG continues as a forum for discussing treatment changes, on-going research, and coordinating communications. 

Several studies related to the D.C. lead issue are helping to ensure the D.C. utilities go beyond compliance with the LCR.  Please see the research section of the Corrosion Control page for additional details on research projects.

Additional Information

• Information for Consumers
• Bottled water and home water treatment devices

Information for Consumers (January 2009)

EPA has reviewed DC WASA's most recent monitoring report for lead in drinking water which covers the July through December 2008 monitoring period. DC WASA reported that more than 90% of samples taken from sites around the district tested at or below the lead action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). This is the eighth consecutive six-month lead monitoring period that results have been at or below the lead action level.

In May 2006, DC WASA, the DC Department of Health (DC DOH), and EPA provided the following revised information to consumers. As a result of the substantial reductions in lead levels district-wide over the last year, the extended 10-minute flushing recommendation for homes with lead service lines and the water filtering recommendation for sensitive populations were lifted.

EPA advises that all consumers continue to follow the recommendations below for reducing their exposure to lead in drinking water.

Steps for reducing potential exposure to lead in drinking water:

• For drinking and cooking: use only cold tap water and remember to flush water lines by running the cold water faucet before use. Flush until the water is as cold as it will get – if there has been recent heavy water use, this could take 5 to 30 seconds. Otherwise it could take 2 minutes or longer. For more information, refer to EPA's Lead in Drinking Water page.
• Periodically, remove and clean the strainer/aerator device on your faucet to remove debris.
• Remember - boiling your water will not remove lead.
• If you still have concerns, have your water tested by a certified laboratory or contact DC WASA at (202) 787-2732.

Children and pregnant women are most at risk of adverse health effects from lead exposure from drinking water and other sources. DC DOH continues to recommend that all pregnant women and children under 6 years old have their blood lead level tested. The DC DOH can be reached by calling (202) 671-0733 or by visiting its Web site.

To find out if you have a lead service line, contact DC WASA's lead services hotline by calling (202) 787-2732 (Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm) or send an e-mail to waterquality@dcwasa.com. DC WASA can also provide information on financial assistance options for replacing the private portion of lead service lines.

If you choose to use bottled water or home water treatment devices:

EPA does not certify or endorse specific home drinking water treatment devices, but recommends that if you choose to use such a device, look for one certified by an independent testing organization, such as NSF International.

Point-of-use devices, such as filters, must be installed, operated, and maintained according to manufacturers' instructions. The device should be certified to remove the contaminant that you are concerned about, such as lead. Make sure there are no plumbing components that could possibly leach lead after water is filtered through a point-of-use (POU) treatment device.

Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When purchasing bottled water, look for products certified by NSF International or the International Bottled Water Association.

Publications from EPA's Water Health Series:

The following publications provide additional information on bottled water and home water treatment units. Please see the Related Links page for information on ordering these publications.

Bottled Water Basics [1.4 MB, 7 pages, about pdf]
Filtration Facts [1.2MB, 7 pages, about pdf]