The City of Lakin Public Water System did not upload the Notification of Known or Potential Service Line Containing Lead trifold to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) online portal by the required deadline of July 1st, 2025.
Please note: This notification was distributed to all customers who may have been impacted. The issue is strictly related to reporting/monitoring and is not related to the quality or safety of your drinking water.
What happened and what does this mean for you?
Public water systems are required to notify customers when a known or potential lead service line is present. The notification must be provided within 30 days of completing the initial inventory and repeated annually until the service connection is no longer lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown.
Water systems are also required to upload proof of that notification to KDHE’s online portal. The upload was not completed by the deadline, which resulted in a monitoring violation.
This violation concerns reporting requirements only—not water quality.
Customers have a right to be informed about what happened and what corrective actions are taking place.
This monitoring violation does not mean there is lead in your drinking water. It does not indicate a health emergency and does not require you to take action at this time.
Background
On January 15, 2021, the EPA promulgated the first major update the Lead and Copper rule, known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Pursuant to 40 C.F.R. § 141.84(a), The LCRR requires, among other things, that community and non-transient non-community water systems must development regardless of ownership status and water systems must notify customers of known or potential service line containing lead is present within 30 days of completion of the initial Lead Servicer Line Inventory.
Health effects of lead: Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Led exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or worsen existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these negative health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney, or nervous system problems.
What should I do?
1. Use a Water Filter
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 been expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter that you use for drinking or cooking.
2. Clean Your Aerator
Regularly clean your faucet’s screen. Sediment debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water. Turn on full flow to let water run after cleaning. After replacing the clean aerator turn on full flow to let water run to flush loose particles after cleaning before drinking.
3. 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 for water.
4. Run your Water
If your water has been sitting in the pipes for more than 18 hours, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, let the water run for at least 30 seconds or until the temperature changes.
5. If You’re Concerned About Construction Disturbing Your Service Lines
Contact your water system to find out about any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your service lines. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line or galvanized service line if lead is present.
6. If You Want Your Water Tested
Contact your water system to learn about your options with having your water tested for lead.
7. Get Your Child Tested to Determine Lead Levels in Their Blood
A family provider, pediatrician, or your County Health Department can perform a childhood blood lead level test and provide information about the health effects of lead. KDHE can also provide information about how you can have your child’s blood tested for lead.
8. Replacing Lead Service Lines or Galvanized Requiring Replacement Service Lines
If you replace your service lines, make sure to use filters for 6 months after service line replacement. Or questions on filters, contact your water system.
What is being done?
The City of Lakin has submitted the required customer notification to KDHE and is completing corrective steps to ensure compliance with reporting procedures going forward.
For more information, please contact:
Travis Lovelady, City Administrator
620-355-6252