The BWSC and the 马萨诸塞州水资源管理局 monitor the quality of Boston's drinking water to ensure that it is safe to drink and complies with Federal and State drinking water quality requirements. 阅读BWSC的年度报告 食水质素报告.
MWRA测试超过1,每月抽取600个水质样本, 从水库一直到家庭水龙头. Annual and monthly test results are posted by the MWRA on its 网站.
BWSC关注饮用水中的铅. 饮用水中的铅 is rarely the sole cause lead poisoning. 然而, 它可以增加一个人的铅暴露总量, particularly the exposure to infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices that are mixed with water. 引领 enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, 或者磨损, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household plumbing.
The water provided by BWSC and the 马萨诸塞州水资源管理局 (MWRA) is 无铅 当它离开热源时. MWRA and BWSC's distribution pipes that carry the water are made mostly of iron and steel and 不 向水中加入铅. 然而, lead can get into 自来水 through home service piping, 铅焊料, 还有一些黄铜固定装置. The corrosion 或者磨损 of these lead-based materials can add lead to 自来水, particularly if water sits for a long time in the pipes before use.
引领 services indicated on the map (引领 Service Map) were reported based on visual inspections performed at the 安装水表时在C下安装新的水表委员会的自动抄表程序. Owners should contact the Commission to confirm the composition of the water service pipe.
引领 & 你的饮用水
饮用水中的铅, 虽然很少是铅中毒的唯一原因, can significantly increase a person's total lead exposure, particularly the exposure to infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices that are mixed with water. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person's total exposure to lead.
引领 is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. 引领 enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, 或者磨损, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, 黄铜和镀铬黄铜水龙头, 在某些情况下, pipes made of lead that connect your house to the water main, 也被称为服务线. In 1986, Congress banned the use of 铅焊料 containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, 铅可能会溶解在你的饮用水中. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon after returning from work or school, 可能含有相当高的铅含量.
引领 & 你的健康
引领 is a common metal found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, 空气, 土壤, 家庭灰尘, 食物, 自来水, 以及某些种类的陶瓷, 黄铜的, 和锡. 引领 can pose a significant risk to your health if too much of it enters your body. 引领 builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, 红细胞和肾脏. The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies. 除了, a child at play often comes into contact with sources of lead contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely affect an adult. It is important to wash children's hands and toys often and to try to make sure they only put 食物 in their mouths.
Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. 引领 is stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. 在怀孕期间, 孩子可能会从母亲的骨头中吸收铅, 哪些会影响大脑发育.
A health care professional can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead.
减少铅暴露
Find out how the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) is taking steps to stop lead from getting into your 自来水 and steps you can take to reduce your lead exposure.
铅的来源
Whether you live in an apartment or single family home, 在一个旧的或新的社区, 铅在你的环境中. 它可以在含铅涂料中找到, 土壤, 家庭灰尘, 食物, 自来水, 以及某些类型的陶器, 瓷, 和锡. 引领 can pose a risk to your health if too much of it enters the body. Most cases of lead poisoning are from contact with peeling lead paint and lead paint dust. While lead in 自来水 is rarely the single cause of lead poisoning, 它可以增加一个人的铅暴露总量, particularly in infants who drink baby formula or concentrated juices that are mixed with water.
铅置换奖励计划
If the service line at your property is made of lead, you are encouraged to utilize the 铅置换奖励计划 to replace it and protect the health of residents in the building.
铅检测中心
The Massachusetts Department of 环境al Protection (DEP) certifies laboratories to analyze water for certain contaminants.
Visit the MWRA's 网站 to obtain a list of laboratories certified by DEP to analyze drinking water for lead.
其他主要资源
波士顿公共卫生委员会 or 617-534-5965
For information about the effects of lead exposure in children.
马萨诸塞州水资源管理局 or 617-242-5323
For information about your community's water supply, and a list of local laboratories that have been certified by DEP for testing water quality.
马萨诸塞州公共卫生部 or 1-800-532-9571
For information about the health effects of lead and how you can have your child's blood tested.
环境保护署 or 800 - 424领先
Massachusetts Department of 环境al Protection or 617-292-5770
For information about where lead is found and how to protect your family.
铅安全波士顿 or 617-635-0190
Technical and financial assistance with grants of up to $8,500.00 per unit to remove lead-based paint from your home.