Some Bluffton home owners are receiving the following letter regarding the replacement of galvanized water service lines as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the risk of potential lead contamination.

Re: Notification of Galvanized Requiring Replacement Service Line
Dear Consumer:

Bluffton Village is the public water system (PWS) responsible for providing drinking water to this location. You are receiving this notification because records indicate this home or building has a galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) service line. A service line is a pipe that connects the water main to the building. ▶︎

What Does This Mean?
Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires us to notify water consumers who are served by a GRR service line. A GRR service line is where a galvanized service line is or was, at any time, downstream of a lead service line or is currently downstream of a “Lead Status Unknown” service line. If the PWS is unable to demonstrate that the galvanized service line was never downstream of a lead service line, it must presume there was an upstream lead service line. Galvanized service lines can capture lead released from upstream lead service lines. Over time, the particles can enter your drinking water, causing elevated lead levels.

What are the Health Effects of Lead?
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.

What Can I Do to Reduce Exposure to Lead if Found in My Drinking Water?
● Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
● Flush your tap if it has been unused for 6 or more hours. Lead levels increase over time as water sits in lead-containing plumbing materials. Regular water usage in your home or building can reduce lead levels in drinking water. When water has not been used for 6 hours or more, homes and buildings served by lead or a galvanized requiring replacement service lines should be flushed until you note a temperature change, then flush for one more minute.
● Use cold water for cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with, drink, or make baby formula from your hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Always use cold water and heat if needed.
● Use an ANSI certified lead filter. Filters certified to the ANSI/NSF 53 standard for lead removal can be effective at reducing lead levels in water.
● Regularly clean your faucet aerators. Over time, particles containing lead can build up on the inside of aerator screens. Cleaning aerators regularly will help eliminate this source of lead.
● For pregnant persons, infants, and young children. Some populations such as pregnant persons, infants, and young children may be more at risk from the harmful effects of lead. These populations may consider taking extra precautions if their home is served by a lead or galvanized requiring replacement service line. These extra precautions may include having their drinking water analyzed for lead, using an alternative source of water (such as bottled water), or utilizing a filter certified to ANSI/NSF 53 standard for lead removal.
● Replace lead containing plumbing fixtures. Many old faucets, valves and other plumbing fixtures may contain lead. Identify if your building’s plumbing fixtures contain lead, and replace them when appropriate.
● You may wish to have your child’s blood tested for lead. Your local county health department can be reached for additional assistance.
● You may wish to test your water for lead. To request this, contact Village of Bluffton at (419)358-2066 for more information.

To obtain a copy of the service line replacement plan, please visit Town Hall at 154 N. Main St. Bluffton Ohio 45817.

What Can You do About Your GRR Service Line?
As your PWS, we are required to provide you with information on opportunities for replacing your GRR line. Currently, we do not have any scheduled opportunities. Once available, you will be notified.

The Village of Bluffton will work with you through this process. Please contact us if you have any questions about this letter, or if you disagree that your home or building is served by a GRR service line at (419) 358-2066.

For More Information, Please Contact: Village of Bluffton at (419)358-2066, visit U.S. EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead, or visit Ohio EPA’s Learn About Lead | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency website. For information about other lead exposure, please visit the Ohio Department of Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning website.

Please share this information with all the other people in this home or building, 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.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

RICH JOHNSON, Mayor
KEVIN NICKEL, Fiscal Officer
JESSE BLACKBURN, Village Administrator
BRYAN LLOYD, Assistant Administrator
www.bluffton-ohio.com
154 N. MAIN STREET
P.O. BOX 63
BLUFFTON, OHIO 45817-0063
(419) 358-2066 * FAX (419) 358-8137