Statement on Lead in RLMA Drinking Water
Recent news accounts about lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan may lead to concerns about lead in your drinking water. Red Lion Municipal Authority (RLMA) customers can be confident the drinking water they receive is safe and does not have dangerous levels of lead.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) regulates the quality of drinking water in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Because of potential sugnificant health concerns, PADEP requires drinking water suppliers to periodically measure the amount of lead in drinking water at the point where it is consumed - in customers' homes. RLMA is required to make these measurements every three years by sampling and testing the water from over 30 residences. The results are reported immediately to PADEP. The last time this testing was conducted in the RLMA system was in 2013. The results were clean with no detectable lead in any of the 30+ samples tested. PADEP requirements are for all samples to be within the 90 percentile. The next round of testing for lead in RLMA's water will be later this year, 2016.
Click here to read some brief Questions and Answers about Lead in RLMA drinking water.
Why does my drinking water sometimes look cloudy when first taken from a faucet and then clear up?
The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the gas bubbles in carbonated soft drinks. AFTER A WHILE, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone.
Is there anything I can do to eliminate the chlorine taste in my water?
Yes. Place a pitcher of water in your refrigerator for cool, fresh water anytime.
What is that Pink Stuff in my Bathroom
Each year, a few customers call to ask us about pink stains or residues that occasionally develop in moist areas in their homes. They generally observe this in toilet bowls, around sink and tub drains, on shower curtains or other shower surfaces, and even in pet water dishes. The customer naturally wants to know if there is something wrong with his/her water.
What is that Black Slimy Stuff in my Bathroom/Kitchen/Laundry Room?
Welcome to the fascinating, but often annoying, world of micro-organisms! If you are experiencing dark gray/black stains or slippery residues in the shower, in a toilet, at a tap, or in the washing machine, you do not have a water quality problem, and you need not fear a health issue. These residues indicate the presence of naturally-occurring mold (fungi), possibly in combination with bacteria, which are commonly seen in our area, and are generally harmless.
Helpful Tips
- Check your toilets for leaks. Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks. The smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 20 or more gallons a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds.