BEDFORD — Residents in Bedford are being notified about a potential source of lead in their drinking water as the City of Bedford works to identify the materials used in water service lines throughout the community.
A notice from the City of Bedford says the city is conducting an inventory of service-line materials, the pipes that connect homes and other buildings to the city’s water main. According to the notice, some service lines have been identified as being made from an unknown material that may contain lead.
The city is asking residents who have not yet completed a service-line survey, or who are unsure whether their service line has been identified, to check their address through the city’s online water-line survey. Residents whose service-line material is listed as “unknown” may be asked to complete a customer survey to help the city determine what type of pipe serves their property.
If residents have previously completed the survey or are unsure if their service line has been identified, visit https://bedford.in.gov/utilities/#water-line-survey.
Residents can also contact the city’s office at 812-275-1626 for assistance completing the survey by phone.
Health concerns
The notice highlights the potential health effects associated with exposure to lead in drinking water. It states that exposure can affect people of all ages, with infants and children particularly vulnerable to developmental and learning effects. The notice also says adults exposed to lead may face increased risks involving cardiovascular, kidney, and nervous-system health.
The city recommends several steps residents can take while it identifies service-line materials. These include cleaning faucet aerators and running cold water for at least five minutes before using it for drinking or cooking.
Residents are also encouraged to have their water tested and to learn more about ways to reduce potential lead exposure.
City officials’ service-line inventory effort is part of a broader effort to determine which properties may have lead or potentially lead-containing plumbing materials and to provide residents with information about their drinking-water infrastructure.
Residents who received the notice are encouraged to check their property’s service-line information and complete the survey if their material is listed as unknown.
For more information regarding steps to take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, and information about opportunities to verify the material of the service line, visit https://www.epa.gov/lead.
