Lead Levels in Alameda County Water: Test Results

Until recently, most people took for granted that when you turn on your tap, safe water pours out. That’s no longer the case, after the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

• Flint Water Crisis and Scandal: 5 Things to Know

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Public Health have a threshold of 15 parts per billion for lead in water. That’s the level at which lead contamination in your water becomes a concern.

Here in Alameda County, water has been tested for lead since 1991. Our water consistently tests at 7 ppb or less.

That’s the good news.

Unfortunately, the county reports that over 5,500 children have been reported to have lead poisoning over the last 10 years. The source: lead based paints or lead in the soil.

According to the county, “many homes built before 1978 have layers of older paint on them. Those layers were brushed on or sprayed on at a time when lead was added to paint to make the paint last longer. These homes may have been painted over since then but as they age the older layers become exposed. When lead-based paint deteriorates, it can create lead hazards: chipping or peeling paint, lead dust (which can get on children’s hands and toys), and contaminate the soil.”

In fact, 70 percent of homes in Alameda County were built before lead was banned in paint. That number soars to 82 percent in Oakland.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there is no safe blood level of lead for children.

The county offers free resources online for dealing with lead contamination in your home.

--Image via Shutterstock