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Good News, Bad News for Galesburg Water
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The following is an update to our story, "Small Town America Not Exempt from Lead Issues" posted February 24, 2010
When presented with a choice, most people opt for the bad news first, so here it is. Lead is still present in the water of 10 homes (60 were sampled) in Galesburg, Illinois, a small town located 200 miles southwest of Chicago. So perhaps you're asking, "What could possibly be the good news knowing lead is still working its way into the local water supply"? I guess this is the optimists' "glass is half full" (of lead) perspective.
Consider that back in 1992 when lead was first discovered, the amount measured in the water supply was 45 parts per billion (ppb), more than three times the allowable limit by the EPA. The most recent report released by the City of Galesburg's Water Division revealed the lead content has been reduced to 16 ppb, just 1 ppb over the EPA's allowable amount. That's nearly a 2/3 reduction. Consistent readings have been hard to come by, but recent results indicate the trend is clearly in the right direction.
A new treatment plant is being brought online this month in hopes of further improving future readings. As reported earlier, the city continues to provide helpful tips to reducing personnel lead exposure in drinking and cooking water. For a small town known for having one of the largest railroad yards in the country, Galesburg appears to be back on the right track.
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