City of Pembroke Pines Lead and Copper testing in Tap Water

In compliance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Lead and Copper Rule, all Public water systems are required to conduct tap water monitoring for Lead and Copper. Lead has been found to build up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. While the water leaving the City’s treatment plant has no detectable levels of lead, of concern to USEPA is possibility of lead leaching from solder material used to join copper pipes in indoor plumbing, a construction method that has been widely used in South Florida during the period from 1983 to June 1988.

In order to evaluate the potential for leaching of lead and copper into the potable water delivered through indoor plumbing, and whose owners/occupants are willing to participate in the program, it is necessary for the Utilities Department of The City of Pembroke Pines to 1) Identify residential properties that have lead solder used to join copper pipes; 2) Obtain water samples from kitchen and bathroom faucets; and 3) test the water samples for a number of water quality parameters. The City of Pembroke Pines utility department has created a program for sampling and testing of tap water during July/August / September 2012.

The program entails selecting 75 qualifying properties. Because the EPA rule requires the water to sit undisturbed in the internal plumbing for at least 6 hours prior to collecting a sample, the program would engage the property occupants themselves to collect the cold water samples, making sure the water does not pass through a filter or softener, and then to make the samples available for pick-up by the utility department.

The utility department shall provide instructions and materials that the owners/occupants will need to participate in the program.

The residents wishing to participate in the program need to call (954) 986-5011 or (954) 435-6577.