Asheville residents are still worried about lead in their drinking water

In Asheville, North Carolina, residents have continued their efforts to test for lead in the drinking water nearly a month after the city's boil water notice was lifted. This heightened demand for lead testing has prompted Chandler to report receiving over 6,600 requests for lead test kits. To accommodate the increasing number of test requests, they are working to contract additional North Carolina state-certified laboratories. Each household can currently receive one lead test kit, limited to customers of City of Asheville water. The lead sampling process typically ranges from two to three weeks, but due to the surge in demand, the estimated turnaround time for test results has stretched to four to six weeks. In addressing public health concerns, Chandler emphasized the prioritization of sampling at county and city schools frequented by vulnerable populations, particularly children under six. This approach is crucial as these areas were tested regularly in the past, offering comparative data against previous lead levels. Chandler also mentioned that they have identified a pool of homes that have undergone lead and copper testing in previous years, labeling these as representative properties. His remarks suggest a systematic and thorough approach to sampling in ensuring water safety. The results from these tested samples have been announced, revealing that out of the 159 samples taken from mid to late November, nine exhibited detectable lead levels in the first draw. Among these, three samples reached or exceeded the action level of 0.015 parts per million, raising alarms. Notably, no consistent pattern has emerged regarding the age of the residences where lead levels were found. Chandler noted that many customers reported that their water sat in the pipes for extended periods after the boil water notice was lifted, which might contribute to the contamination. Furthermore, the lead levels found in these samples align with regular compliance testing cycles conducted every three years, indicating ongoing vigilance and accountability in ensuring the safety of Asheville's water supply. To enhance testing access, plans are underway to coordinate with Asheville Fire to establish pick-up and drop-off points for lead test kits in the community.