Study probes elevated lead levels
Low water usage, lead soldering blamed for test results at some homes last year
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » A city official said Tuesday a study found a couple of factors caused elevated levels of lead to be found in the drinking water of several homes last year.
During the City Council meeting Tuesday, Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco said the cause was found to be “generally lead solder in pipes of older homes combined with low usage and/or season use of water in these homes.”
In July, the city announced routine testing found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in seven of 60 homes sampled.
Both of the city’s public water sources, the Water Treatment Plant and Geyser Crest Subdivision, tested at non-detect levels for lead.
Scirocco also said in November a sampling done was back into compliance under the state’s Department of Health’s threshold for the substance.
Officials said in July they believed that the cause for the levels in the seven homes was older pipes or plumbing materials containing lead. Homes built before 1986 can potentially have lead soldering and other fixtures that increase the possibility for lead to enter the water. Lead can enter the water when it remains in con-
tact with pipes or fixtures that contain lead for an extended period of time.
“Infants, fetus, young children and pregnant women are the most at risk from exposure to lead,” the state Department of Health website says. “Lead can harm a child’s growth, behavior and ability to learn. Lead can be passed on from mother to baby during pregnancy. Lead is stored in the bones and can be released during pregnancy or nursing.”
With the corrosion control study done, the state gave the city a deadline to complete design plans for implementation of improvements at the city’s main water plant.
The improvement will include a chemical addition at the water plant to more effectively keep lead from leaching from lead solder/ components in older homes, officials said.
In addition, a task order was designated for the engineering firm Barton & Loguidice to design a water treatment plant orthophosphate chemical feed system.
“Barton & Loguidice will design an orthophosphate chemical feed system that can be installed in-house by city personnel,” said Scirocco. “The effect of the orthophosphate chemical is to coat the pipes and prevent lead from leaching into water due to water corrosiveness. It should also have the benefit of improving water quality by coating the city’s main.”
Scirocco said design plans are almost completed, and once approved by the Department of Health, city laborers will construct the improvements.