Lead Action Level Exceedance

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Drinking Water Warning - Sampling Shows Elevated Lead Levels in Some Homes


As part of routine compliance with federal monitoring requirements, the City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) recently conducted tap water sampling at selected at-risk homes. Some of the samples showed lead levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action level. Residents of the affected homes have been notified. If your home was part of this sampling effort, you will receive your individual test results by mail within the next few days. These results are specific to the homes where samples were collected and may differ from those at other addresses.

What is an Action Level?

The lead action level is a measure of the effectiveness of corrosion control treatment in water systems. The action level is not a standard for establishing a safe level of lead in a home. To check if corrosion control is working, EPA requires water systems to conduct tap water sampling for lead at locations with higher potential for lead exposure. The BOPU compares sample results from each home sampled to the EPA’s action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb). If 10 percent of the samples from these homes have water concentrations that are greater than the action level, then the system must perform actions such as public education, adjusting treatment, and lead service line replacement.

What Happened?

In September 2025, the BOPU collected 30 samples for lead testing. By Friday, September 26, results had been received from a certified laboratory for 25 of those samples. Three (3) samples exceeded the EPA’s action level for lead. All three exceedances occurred in the area northwest of the intersection of E Pershing Blvd and Evans Avenue. Each of these results came from first-draw samples taken directly from the faucet, indicating that the source of lead was likely in-home plumbing.

The BOPU is focused on protecting the health of every household in our community. The primary sources of lead in drinking water are lead containing components in service lines and home plumbing. Lead from components of customer’s service lines, plumbing, and fixtures can dissolve or break off into water and end up at the faucet.

Since the early 1990’s, Cheyenne conducted studies and implemented treatment methods to adjust water pH and alkalinity to prevent lead from leaching from piping components into drinking water. In the past two years, the BOPU increased its efforts to identify homes with lead components in service lines. As more homes with lead components have been identified, the BOPU notifies and prioritizes those customers in routine sampling for lead.

This does not mean that every property receiving drinking water from the BOPU contains lead. However, customers living in homes built before 1989 are more likely to have plumbing materials that can contribute to lead in drinking water and are encouraged to take steps to reduce their exposure. For more information on reducing lead in drinking water, visit https://www.epa.gov/lead.

Health Effects of Lead

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

Steps to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water

Below are recommended actions that customers may take to minimize exposure to lead in drinking water.

  • Use a certified water filter for lead properly. Using a filter, certified to remove lead by the American National Standards Institute, can reduce lead in drinking water. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on installation, maintenance and replacement schedules. Do not run hot water through the filter. More information on home water filtration can be found on the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/home-drinking-water-filtration-fact-sheet and EPA’s notice Consumer Tool for Identifying Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce Lead.
  • Clean faucet aerators regularly. Regularly remove and clean each faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in aerators, potentially introducing lead into water.
  • Use cold water for consumption. Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Always use cold water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.
  • Flush pipes before use. The more time water sits in a home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain. Run the faucets until the water runs cold. Take a shower, do laundry, or wash dishes before using water for drinking or cooking. Customers that have been notified they have service lines with lead components or that have galvanized lines may need to flush pipes for a longer period.
  • Learn what material was used in your service line. Visit the BOPU’s website at https://www.cheyennebopu.org/Water/Lead-Service-Line for an inventory map of known service lines and the materials used in its construction.
  • Replace in home fixtures and plumbing that contain lead. Customers can identify and remove lead materials within the home’s plumbing and reduce the risk of exposure. Protect Your Tap: A quick check for lead is EPA’s on-line step by step guide to learn how to find lead pipes in a home.
  • Have water tested. Certified laboratories can test water for lead. A list of certified testing facilities is available at the EPA's website for certified laboratories. Note that a single sample may not capture all potential sources of lead in plumbing. Lead levels may vary over time. Lead exposure is still possible after tap sampling results do not detect lead in a particular sample. More information on lead sources is available on the EPA's website for basic information about lead in drinking water.

    BOPU is NOT a Certified Laboratory for Lead Testing.

 

Get Your Child Tested to Determine Lead Levels in His or Her Blood

A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about how you can have your child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more. For more information and links to CDC’s website, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.

What is Being Done?

The BOPU is working with EPA, under the guidance of the Safe Drinking Water Act, to identify ways to reduce lead exposure in drinking water. For customers whose test results exceeded the Lead and Copper Rule Action Level, the BOPU will provide direct support. This may include follow-up testing to help identify the source of lead, supplying certified water filter pitchers, and replacing components of the service line as needed. As a split-ownership utility, the BOPU is responsible for the section of the service line from the water main to the curb stop (or shutoff), while property owners are responsible for the section from the curb stop to the home.

The BOPU is maintaining a Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) and has developed a publicly accessible map for customers to view the classification of their service lines. http://www.cheyennebopu.org/Water/Lead-Service-Line.

BOPU’s highest priority is providing safe and reliable drinking water to the Cheyenne community. To reduce the risk of lead exposure, BOPU adjusts the pH of the water to minimize the potential for lead to leach from service lines, fixtures, or faucets.

Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

General guidelines for ways to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water are available through EPA’s website https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.

For more information, please call (307) 637-6460 or email leadfree@cheyennebopu.org