IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
YOUR WATER SERVICE LINE
Public Water Service (PWS) ID: TX2300001
PWS Name: City
of Big Sandy
Date: October 10, 2024 903.636.4343 publicworks@bigsandytx.gov
We are
sending you this notice at the request of TCEQ after an initial water service
line inventory. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) required this inventory in a national and
statewide effort to identify possible sources of lead in customers’ drinking
water and remove or minimize these sources. During the City’s initial inventory, each resident was
asked to complete a survey to let us know what type of plumbing lines they have
in their house.
After this initial inventory was completed
in early October 2024, we have determined that your water service line material
is Unknown. In most cases,
this means that either you do not know what type of plumbing lines you have or
you did not respond to the survey. Please read through the definitions below to
learn more about this determination.
·
Unknown (may contain lead) – a portion of or
the entire service line (your plumbing) material is unknown and may be lead or
galvanized requiring replacement.
·
Lead – a portion of or the entire service line
is made from lead. People living in homes with a lead service line may have an
increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.
·
Galvanized – a portion of or the entire service line
is made from galvanized material and may have absorbed lead from upstream lead
lines. People living in homes with a galvanized service line that has absorbed
lead may have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.
If you believe your service line has been
incorrectly categorized, please contact us using the phone number or email
provided in this notice. Our hope is that after reading through this notice,
you will be able to identify what type of service lines (plumbing) you have and
we can update the categorization of your lines.
Replacing Lead or Galvanized Service Lines
If you determine
that you have lead or galvanized service lines (plumbing), the replacement of these
lines are your responsibility. Please contact us if you think you have
lead plumbing or pipes and we can help you research options to replace these
lines.
If you have
replaced, or plan to replace, a section of a lead or
galvanized service line from the meter to your property, we ask you to let us
know as soon as you can using the contact information provided below. We are
required to replace our section of the service line from the meter to the water
main.
Contact
Information: For more
information regarding the information contained in this notice, please contact Utility
Clerk Sarah Strub at 903.636.4343 or by email at utilityclerk@bigsandytx.gov.
Important
Information about the Health
Effects of Lead
Exposure to lead 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 You Can Take to Reduce
Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water
Below are recommended actions that you may take,
separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking
water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not
intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead
from drinking water.
·
Use your filter properly.
Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it
should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the
filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and
when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less
effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more
information, use the QR codes for EPA’s (QR-1) tool to identify certified filters,
and (QR-2) fact sheet on home filtration.

·
Clean your aerator.
Regularly remove and clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator).
Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead
particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
·
Use cold water.
Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula
as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove
lead from water.
·
Run your water.
The more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may
contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a
shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the
water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line, the length and
diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home.