Elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant woman and young children.
Protect yourself
Get tested
The state of Oregon requires all licensed day care facilities to test for lead in water.
Avoid lead exposure
- Run cold water to flush out lead. If the water hasn’t been used for several hours, run cold taps for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking or cooking.
- Do not cook, drink or make baby formula with hot water from the tap. Hot water dissolves contaminants, like lead, quicker than cold water.
- Do not boil water to reduce lead.
- Install low-lead fixtures and a lead-reducing filter.
Get informed
Learn more about lead
Gresham's drinking water
- Gresham's public water
system is safe. In 1986 the City removed all known lead service connections
from its distribution system. See our certification letter.
- The City monitors some higher risk homes built or plumbed
from 1983-1985. Some homes built during
this time are known to have used higher risk pipe materials.
How does lead get into my water?
- Exposure to lead
through drinking water is possible if materials in a building’s plumbing
contain lead.
- Lead enters
drinking water primarily because of corrosion in plumbing and
fixtures.
- Building materials that increase risk include: lead-based
solder that joins copper pipes, brass components and faucets.
Additional lead resources