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EPA urges states to publish individual lead water samples

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July 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says states are taking action to address the risk of lead in drinking water but more needs to be done to share key information with the public. EPA urged states in letters sent Thursday to post individual lead sampling results on public websites. That practice will allow residents to see which homes and buildings have been tested and what level of lead was identified.

The EPA said a “substantial number” of states were already posting such information but others haven’t, citing information technology hurdles and privacy concerns. The agency’s push comes after the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where residents were exposed to high lead levels when the city switched to a more corrosive water source that wasn’t properly treated.