By Mark Wineka

Salisbury Post

EAST SPENCER — Samples taken last September showed elevated levels of lead in the drinking water of four homes in East Spencer.

In response, Salisbury-Rowan Utilities initiated a public education program through newspaper advertisements and direct mailings to advise some 600 water customers in the town about measures they can take to reduce their possible exposure to lead.

As part of its regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires the public education program if more than 10 percent of homes sampled have elevated lead levels. Salisbury-Rowan Utilities has a contract to operate the East Spencer’s water system.

The federal environmental agency also requires the utility to have a program to minimize lead in drinking water.

Salisbury-Rowan Utilities is adding phosphate to the system to control corrosion. The phosphate coats the inside of pipes, making it less likely that lead will leach into the drinking water.

Utility officials alerted the people at each of the 31 homes of the sampling results and advised those with concentrations of lead above the “action level” of 15 parts per billion to have their water and pipes tested and their plumbing replaced if necessary. The utility also suggested other preventive steps.

See complete story in Sunday’s Salisbury Post.