Tap Water Testing
Every three years the City is required to perform water quality sampling to comply with the Federal and State Lead and Copper Rule. Samples are collected to determine the lead and copper levels in the community’s tap water. During the week of July 17 through July 30, 2024, collection bottles and instructions were sent to 34 homeowners at pre-approved sites based on age of the building’s plumbing.
Samples are taken from either a kitchen or bathroom cold-water faucet that needs to be inactive for a minimum of six hours prior to filling the container. Once the water is collected, the sample bottle is labeled with the date and time of the collection. The receptacles are gathered by utility staff and sent to a lab for analysis.
Laboratory results are organized in ascending order by the amounts of lead or copper in milligram per liter. Then the 4th and 5th highest samples are added together and divided in two to provide the 90th percentile level. The 90th percentile number is compared against the lead and copper action level.
The EPA has set current action levels for lead and copper at 0.015 mg/L and 1.3mg/L respectively.
In 2024, 2021, 2018, and 2015 the 90th percentile lead level and the 90th percentile copper level were below the established action levels for lead and copper. Proper corrosion control practices should be implemented by all public water systems to protect consumers from potential lead and copper contamination. The results of city-wide testing show that Wilsonville’s drinking water is being properly treated for corrosion control.
Results of the monitoring effort and information about lead are provided to the sample location homeowners after the tap water monitoring results are received. If excessive lead and/or copper levels are found, immediate notification is provided to the homeowner.
For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD, or contact your health care provider.
