Drinking water notice issued in Peoria after tests find high lead levels

A drinking water notice was issued for Peoria on Monday after nearly 15% of water samples collected in the area had elevated levels of lead.

Fourteen of 103 water samples collected contained more than 15 parts per billion of lead, legally triggering the notification, though Illinois American Water Co. said the issue was not systemic. It did not release the locations of the samples that were collected, though it said no water with elevated levels of lead was coming from water treatment plants.

The company said it was conducting further testing — beyond the federally required testing that initially spotted the issue — and assessing its corrosion control methods.

“Please understand that these test results are specific to each of the individual sites tested,” the company wrote in a statement.

Lead is especially harmful to children with developing brains and can cause a number of serious health conditions in adults. Lead can damage the brain and nervous system, as well as cause slowed growth and developmental, behavioral and learning difficulties.

To help reduce lead exposure, those with lead pipes should run their faucet with cold water for five minutes if it has gone unused for more than six hours,

Filters rated to remove lead, labeled NSF/ANSI Standard 53, and particulates, labeled NSF/ANSI Standard 42, can help reduce exposure, according to the state health department. Boiling water does not remove lead. Residents can also get their water tested and clean their sink screens, among other preventive measures.

The notice comes days after the Illinois Department of Public Health added 180 ZIP codes across 47 counties, roughly 13% of the state, to the list on July 1. Every Chicago ZIP code appears on the list.

Some of the newly added ZIP codes are in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.