BEDFORD – The City of Bedford is asking residents to take an important step to protect community health by helping identify drinking water service line materials across the city’s water system. Officials are working to determine which homes and buildings may still be connected with older service lines made of lead or unknown materials.
Lead in drinking water poses serious health risks for people of all ages, but it is especially harmful to infants, children, and pregnant women. Children exposed to lead can suffer decreases in IQ, attention span, and may develop new or worsening learning and behavior problems. Adults can face increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney issues, and nervous system problems.
Residents can quickly check the status of their property’s service line by visiting https://bedford.in.gov/utilities/#water-line-survey and entering their address. If your service line is listed as “unknown,” the city is asking you to complete the customer survey to help confirm the material of your service line. You may also call the Utilities Office at 812-275-1626 to complete the survey over the phone.
Until all service line materials are confirmed, residents are encouraged to take precautions to reduce potential exposure to lead, including cleaning faucet aerators, running cold water for at least five minutes before using it for cooking or drinking, and having household water tested. The Environmental Protection Agency provides additional guidance at http://www.epa.gov/lead.
“The safety of our community’s drinking water is a top priority,” city officials emphasized. “By working together to identify service line materials, we can better protect Bedford families and future generations.”
