For the first time in 30 years, Rathdrum has found unacceptable levels of lead in its drinking water.

Three residential properties tested above the Environmental Protection Agency-established action level of 15 lead parts per billion in recent tests.

The three homes were all built prior to 1996, when the EPA amended the Safe Drinking Water Act. The amendment established lead-free requirements for all plumbing fittings and fixtures in addition to lead-free pipes, flux, and solder required by a 1986 amendment in both public infrastructure and residential plumbing.

Rathdrum Public Works Department staff are working closely with the State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to take appropriate action. Public health protection is their top priority, they said.

Residents can take precautions against lead by running the faucet for 15 to 30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking if the tap hasn’t been used for several hours. Using cold water for cooking, drinking, and baby formula also reduces the likelihood of exposure, as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Residents can also purchase bottled water or a water filter approved to reduce lead levels and test their water for lead by calling the city.

Questions and concerns can be directed to the city of Rathdrum at (208) 687-2700 or by visiting the city website at www.rathdrum.org.

Suzanne Scheidt, Senior Drinking Analyst at the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, may also be contacted at (208) 769-1422 or via email: [email protected].

An information letter was recently mailed to Rathdrum residents and posted on the city’s website. It details further precautions and at-risk populations.

According to city officials, Rathdrum coordinated with water customers to collect lead and copper samples from 24 residences between August and September, as required by the state. Three water samples contained lead levels well above the EPA’s action level with lead levels of 63 parts per billion, 60 ppb and 32 ppb. Lead sampling results from the remaining locations ranged from 10ppb to less than 1ppb.

On Nov. 14 and 20, Scheidt and Kevin Jump, drinking water supervisor for the city of Rathdrum, collected water samples from all wells supplying water to the system and key distribution mains, as well as two of the three residences with elevated lead levels. Results available Tuesday showed that no wells tested above 2.2ppb for lead. The residences were within the 3 ppb range, well within a safe level.

“[Tuesday’s] results were critical to our investigation as these data demonstrate lead is not being introduced from the City’s infrastructure,” Scheidt said.

The city expects the rest of the laboratory analysis to be available mid-December. Staff anticipates the high lead levels to be contained to residential plumbing.

In 2020 the city will collect two rounds of 40 samples (a total of 80 samples) for lead and copper from priority sampling locations within their service area.