CITY OF ALEDO, TEXAS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER Sampling shows elevated lead levels in some homes or buildings PWS NAME: City of Aledo PWS ID: TX1840001 Our system found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes or buildings. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water. Health Effects of Lead Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems. Sources of Lead Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure. Our system is focused on protecting the health of every household in our community; however, lead from water service lines and lead plumbing and fixtures can dissolve or break off into water and end up at the faucet. Brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as "lead-free'' may contribute lead to drinking water. The law currently allows pipes, fittings, and fixtures with up to 0.25% weighted average of lead to be identified as "lead-free." This does not mean that every property that receives drinking water from our system has lead in the drinking water. It does mean that you should understand how to reduce your exposure to lead through water. Keep in mind that drinking water is not the only potential source of lead exposure, since lead can be found in air, soil, and paint. For more information on all sources of lead, visit www.epa.gov/lead. Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water Below are the recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead from drinking water. Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, visit EPA's website at www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/home-drinking-water-filtration-fact-sheet and EPA's Consumer Tool for Identifying Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce Lead.Clean your faucet aerator. Regularly remove and clean your faucet's screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in your home's pipes, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home's pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home. Residents may contact us for recommendations about flushing times in their community.Have your water tested. Contact us to have your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water. Get Your Child Tested to Determine Lead Levels in their Blood A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about how you can have your child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child's blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more. For more information and links to CDC's website, please visit www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water. What is an Action Level? The lead action level is a measure of the effectiveness of the corrosion control treatment in water systems. The action level is not a standard for establishing a safe level of lead in a home. To check if corrosion control is working, EPA requires water systems to test for lead at the tap in certain homes, including those with lead service lines. Systems compare sample results from homes to EPA's action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb). If 10 percent of the samples from these homes have water concentrations that are greater than the action level, then the system must perform actions such as public education, adjusting treatment, and lead service line replacement. What happened? During the following compliance period, the results of more than 10 percent of our samples exceeded the action level for lead. Compliance period: 01/01/2025 – 06/30/2025 Number of samples taken: 40 90th percentile concentration: 0.0335 mg/L What is Being Done? The City will continue to monitor individual taps and notify customers as necessary, as well as initiate protocol to prevent corosion. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. For more information, please call us at 817-441-7016__ or visit our website at https://www.aledotx.gov. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home or building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's website at www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider. Contact Name: Laura Weber, Communications Manager Email: lweber@aledotx.gov Date distributed: July 16, 2025 IPL0255350 Jul 18 2025