HEALTH
Sandy lifts “no-drink order” after lead, copper found in water
Feb 15, 2019, 5:54 PM | Updated: Feb 17, 2019, 8:13 pm
The EPA announced Friday $63 million in federal funding to toward Utah's water infrastructure, and that includes clean drinking water. (Adobe Stock)
(Adobe Stock)
UPDATE 2/17 8:00 PM: Sandy City has lifted the “no-drink order” for 600 homes in the 1700 E to 2000 E and 10600 S to 11400 S neighborhood. Tests on 192 homes showed levels of lead and copper below safety standards.
UPDATE 2/17, 10:30 AM: Sandy City has lifted the “no-drink order” for part of the city potentially affected by high metal content in the water. The No Drink Order is lifted for the area between 700 East to 1700 East and 10600 South and 11400 South, encompassing approximately 2,200 homes.
Results from 17 samples taken around the area show that all levels of metals have returned to safe drinking levels. Additionally, samples taken at Altara Elementary, Sunrise Elementary and Alta High School showed no elevated levels of metals.
The area between 1700 East and 2000 East and 10600 South and 11400 South remains under a No Drink Order at this time.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has confirmed that Sandy’s drinking water has elevated levels of lead and copper.
BREAKING: High levels of lead and fluoride are present in Sandy City municipal drinking water in the aftermath of last week’s storm. Efforts are being taken to mitigate the situation. For media contact @deqdonna.
— Utah DEQ (@UtahDEQ) February 16, 2019
The DEQ completed testing on the drinking water after a device that feeds fluoride into the water system failed during last week’s snowstorm. This is causing the chemical to eat away at the pipes. The department estimates about 450 residents are impacted.
BREAKING 02/15/19: High levels of lead and fluoride have been detected in sample from Sandy City municipal drinking water. Efforts are being taken to mitigate the situation.
— Donna K Spangler (@deqdonna) February 16, 2019
Director of the Division of Drinking Water for Utah, Marie Owens, says they had been monitoring fluoride levels in the system.
“They took two lead and copper samples in their system while they were investigating the situation,” Owens said. “Those results came back and were given to us, the Division of Drinking Water, and those results came back quite high for lead and copper.”
The DEQ confirms this is only affecting Sandy and is not valley wide. The area affected in Sandy ranges north to south from 10600 S. to 11400 S., and east to west from 700 E. to 2000 E.
Right now, this is limited to some Sandy City water users. This is not valley wide. Affected users are being notified and precautions are being shared with them.
— Utah DEQ (@UtahDEQ) February 16, 2019
Sandy City believes the fluoride overfeed started on Tuesday. It has now flushed its system, which has returned to normal levels of fluoride. But Owens says it’s not clear how long the levels of copper and lead will be elevated.
This story will be updated.
