Don’t be afraid of the terrifying letter the city of Greensboro just sent you

On Tuesday, November 12, many Greensboro residents were deeply alarmed to find in their mail a letter from the city suggesting that the water entering their homes was contaminated.

The ominous-sounding letter, which came under the letterhead of the City of Greensboro Water Supply Department, shows the homeowner’s address in bold letters and, in capital letters at the top, reads: “YOUR SERVICE LINE IS OF UNKNOWN SERVICE LINE MATERIAL.”

The letter continues: “This notice contains important information about your drinking water. Please share this information with anyone who drinks and/or cooks water at this property. In addition to people served directly in this building, this may also include people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, businesses, as well as parents served by childcare in this building.”

That is followed by this statement: “The City of Greensboro is working to identify the plumbing pipe materials throughout the water system and has determined that the water main (also called mains pipe) connecting your building to the water main is made of an unknown material . Because the material of your service line is unknown, it is possible that the service line consists entirely or partially of lead or galvanized pipes that have previously been connected to lead. People who live in homes with lead or galvanized pipes that were previously connected to a lead pipe are at increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.”

The letter, which consists of one page on both the front and back, then goes on to detail the serious health consequences of lead poisoning, noting that lead poisoning can cause serious health consequences at all ages, including heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney or vascular diseases. problems with the nervous system.

It also contains information about several methods you can use to reduce the amount of lead in the water entering your home. It goes into detail on how to use water filters properly, how to use cold water instead of hot water so less lead is pulled from the pipes, how to let water run for a while before actually using it , since the “first tap water” contains more lead.

It will then discuss how you can have your water tested for contamination.

Another paragraph in the letter reads: “Have your child tested to determine the lead level in his blood.”

After that bold subheading it says: “While we cannot confirm that your home has a main service line, you may want to speak with a healthcare provider to see if your child’s blood lead levels are elevated and/or blood tests are needed. .”

The letter from Water Resources, which went out to thousands upon thousands of city residents this week, understandably sent some of them into virtual panic, with many asking, “How long has my water been contaminated? Will my children survive lead poisoning? Will I be sick?”

A call to the city’s main answer bank didn’t yield much clarification; however, a representative from the City of Greensboro Water Resources Department did provide some answers.

And the truth is not nearly as scary as the gruesome letter makes it sound.

The Water Resources staff member overseeing the project told the Rhino Times on Tuesday, Nov. 12, that due to a new Environmental Protection Agency regulation, the city had to update its database regarding service lines from the city water line to homes and buildings to determine what material these service lines are made of.

The department representative said the letters were sent to all home and building owners with structures built before 1986. That’s because structures built after 1986 would not have lead or other problematic plumbing systems, while structures built before then could.

Since the EPA implemented the new regulations, the city is asking people with homes and other buildings built before 1986 to determine what type of service line runs to their home and notify the city so they can inventory it .

Those who don’t do this by December 31 will face a $500 fine. Not really, but the city would like you to let them know once you determine which type of pipe is bringing water into your home.

According to the department representative, recent random testing of water from homes in the city has not shown any concerning lead levels.

Still, people who have pipes of unknown material built before 1986 should investigate the matter and have the city file a report.

However, they are not allowed to grab the children and run out of the house screaming.