Vol. 19, No. 13

Dec. 2, 1999

Run water before drinking

Users of Newark city water are encouraged to run the tap for two or three minutes before using water for drinking or for cooking. Water provided by the city has been measured to have an intermittent low pH. When this occurs and when water sits in pipes over a long period, such as overnight, metals including copper and lead may leach from pipes into the water. To correct this problem, the city will begin using a neutralization process by the end of 1999 to raise the pH and reduce the potential for leaching. Limited sampling has shown that flushing reduces metals concentrations to well within EPA acceptable levels. Water for drinking or cooking should not be drawn from a hot water tap as more metals may leach under high temperatures. Persons with Wilson's disease or any disease involving abnormal metabolism of metals should avoid drinking tap water until the pH and metals conditions are corrected. For further information, call the Department of Occupational Health and Safety at 831-8475.