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MARION, OH–Aqua is working with regulatory agencies to notify by mail customers in the Marion service area who have service lines made of lead, galvanized steel or unknown material. Service lines connect a home or other building to water mains. Locations with service lines that have been confirmed to be made of other non-lead bearing materials will not receive notification.
“Aqua’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable water service,” said Scott Ballenger, area manager of Aqua’s Marion Division. “We’re working with the EPA to identify lead lines. Once they’ve been identified, we’ll work with property owners to replace those lines.”
Research has linked lead with serious health complications, especially in young children. In Ohio, lead service lines have been prohibited for use in plumbing since 1988. Homes built earlier, could still have lead service lines.
Customers are not being asked to take any action at this time. The notification letters are being sent for informational and regulatory purposes. They provide simple tips to limit exposure to lead. They also inform customers that Aqua is working to identify unknown service line materials and replace those made of lead or galvanized steel at no direct cost.
Aqua takes steps to prevent lead from leaching into the water they distribute and conducts routine tests to confirm that lead levels remain below actionable levels. Nonetheless, Aqua is working with the Ohio EPA and USEPA to eliminate lead lines.
About Aqua Ohio
Aqua Ohio is the Buckeye State’s largest investor-owned drinking water and wastewater utility and serves about 500,000 residents in 19 counties. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information, or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica