Elevated Lead Levels in Water at 2 Malden Test Sites

Two of Malden's 15 test sites had water with "elevated levels of lead," the water department said, and the City will work on replacing lead water pipes.

The Malden Water Department and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority test 15 sites "that are likely to have lead components" every six months. For the test period ending Dec. 31, two of the sites had what the department said was elevated levels of lead, putting Malden in the 87th percentile "rather than the acceptable 90%."

The result of the tests was 30.9 parts per billion; No more than 10 percent of the community samples can contain lead levels above 15 parts per billion, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Tips: Lead Safety

Last year, Malden was one of two communities to flunk the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s lead level testing, but officials said then there was no cause for concern.

"They sample houses that are most likely not to pass," an MWRA spokesperson said at the time.

Malden says it about a quarter of its 12,000 water pipes are lead. The City said it is developing a solution to replace lead water pipes in the streets and on private property.

>>>Find out here if you have lead service lines.

Malden reminds you that lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. You can find important safety information in this flyer.

Another flyer the City is sending out to residents offers the following information on lead danger:

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or
other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the
production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead
exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of
lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood
pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Additionally, lead is
stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child can receive
lead from the mother's bones, which may affect brain development

For more information, call 781-397-7040, visit leadinfo@cityofmalden.org, or go here. A reminder that municipal offices are closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.