As many of you know, the United States EPA has issued new guidelines that will affect water lines around the country. Hammond Water Works wants to assure you that we are committed to meeting all EPA standards and have been working diligently to provide our customers with the most cost-efficient means of bringing you the safest drinking water possible! As a brief overview, Hammond currently has over 27,000 lines throughout the City, 24,000 of which are lead or galvanized; 4,500 of unknown materials. You likely received a letter identifying which category you fall within.
As a historical note, we began over 10 years ago to eliminate any lead residuals by replacing 24,000 home and apartment complex lead water meters with lead-free meters. Hammond Water Works is consistently testing water throughout various parts of the city to ensure that, once the water leaves the filtration plant, it remains safe upon delivery to homes and businesses. Every result is sent to a 3rd party lab that is certified by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. IDEM requires us to test a certain amount of sites throughout the city every 3 years and every sample has come well below the IDEM action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
This past year Hammond Water Works has teamed up with Arcadis, a leading engineering company in design and consultancy to begin our Lead Service Line Replacement Pilot Program which is currently Federally and State funded. The current program is based on the lowest income neighborhoods located in the 2nd District, and allows for the full service line, from water main to water meter, to be replaced at no cost to the homeowner. HWW will continue to find funding to continue to replace any lead lines and we will continue to ensure that our samples are WELL BELOW IDEM’s action level. If you are still concerned, please review the “STEPS TO REDUCE POTENTIAL RISK OF LEAD EXPOSURE IN DRINKING WATER” section on the 2nd page of the letter you received.
Why did I receive this letter?
The US EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions is requiring yearly notification to inform you of the type of service line you have. And to also inform you of the risks of the exposure of lead and how to reduce levels of lead in your drinking water until your service lines can be replaced. This is a nationwide required notification and not just the City of Hammond.
Is Hammond water safe?
Yes. State and Federal guidelines have a maximum lead level of 15 ppb. Hammond Water Department tests throughout various sites throughout the city with lead lines and the lead values fall well below this level. The Hammond Water Department has always been in compliance with IDEM and the EPA in regards to their lead and copper mcl (maximum contaminant levels).
The letter says my line needs to be replaced. Does the City have funds to pay for that?
The Hammond Water Works is working towards replacing lead and galvanized lines with the help of Federal and State funds.
Who owns the service lines?
Property Owners in Hammond own their water service line from the water main to the meter, Hammond Water Works is completing lead service line replacements as funding is available from the state.
What steps are being taken now by the Hammond Water Works to ensure Hammond residents are provided with safe drinking water?
The Hammond Water Department began changing out lead based meters in homes in 2013 and are happy to report that 99.84% of the residential homes now have lead free meters installed. Currently we are now replacing lead and galvanized lines that were approved from Federal and State funding.
For more information on reducing lead exposure from your drinking water and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/lead
