City of Troy Alerts

Public Service Announcement: Important information about lead in your drinking water

4/8/2024 - 11:44 AM

Public Service Announcement

Important information about lead in your drinking water

This is Mayor Mantello from the City of Troy with an important public service announcement.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

The City of Troy Department of Public Utilities found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings in our community. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure. The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil.
We continue to identify and replace lead service lines in the city---free of charge. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to greatly reduce your exposure to lead in your water, including:
  • Running your water for 3 minutes twice every day, first thing in the morning and after work, to flush away contaminants.
  • Using cold water, not warm water, for cooking and preparing baby formula.
  • Do not boil water to remove lead. Lead is a metal which is why it cannot be boiled out of water. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled water or, after confirming your service line, you can receive a free Brita water filter. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 800-NSF-8010 or visit NSF Filter Guide,  for a consumer guide of approved water filters. In conjunction with flushing, properly operated filters are highly effective at reducing lead exposure. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
Chipping paint is another common source of lead contamination. Please ensure that paint chips are cleaned up immediately.
Call the City of Troy Department of Public Utilities at 518-237-0343 or visit our Web site at www.‌troyny.gov/‌lead to find out how to get your water tested for lead or for more information. For more information on lead in drinking water, contact your local health department, the Rensselaer County Department of Health, at 518-270-2632, or the New York State Department of Health directly by calling the toll-free number (within New York State) 1-800-458-1158, extension 27650, or out of state at (518) 402-7650, or by email at bpwsp@health.state.ny.us. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov/‌lead or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.

This notice is brought to you by the City of Troy Department of Public Utilities.
Public Water Supply ID# 4100050.
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