Aqua America Offers Customers Video, Tips to Minimize Lead Exposure

Water, wastewater utility recognizes Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
by encouraging homeowners to be mindful of potential sources of lead in
drinking water

BRYN MAWR, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aqua America is encouraging customers to be mindful of potential sources
of lead in drinking water during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 22
– 28. To help raise awareness, Aqua released
a lead education video that helps its customers who are homeowners
to understand the important role they play in ensuring their water is
lead free.

“Each day, Aqua strives to deliver clean, safe drinking water to our
customers,” said Christopher Crockett, chief environmental officer at
Aqua America. “While Aqua routinely tests water to ensure that it is
safe to drink, we are taking this opportunity to educate customers on
the significant dangers of lead exposure and making sure customers
understand the importance of safeguarding their homes.”

There are two main sources of lead contamination in drinking water: lead
service lines that deliver water directly into homes from the water
mains in the street, and household plumbing containing lead solder and
brass fixtures. Lead in either of these sources can cause damage to the
brain and kidneys and interference with the production of vital red
blood cells. Infants, young children and pregnant women are particularly
vulnerable to the effects.

Aqua owns service lines from the water main to the customer's curb. If
lead service lines are found during maintenance and construction, the
company takes responsibility to replace them with modern service lines
made without lead. If Aqua detects lead in the portion of the service
line owned by the customer, the company alerts the customer and provides
support to resolve the issue. Customers are encouraged to work with a
licensed plumber to identify and replace lead-based pipes, fixtures and
other materials in their homes.

Aqua recommends the following tips for customers whose water shows
elevated levels of lead or who have concerns about possible lead
exposure:

• If your water hasn’t been used for several hours, run the tap for 30
  seconds to two minutes before using it for drinking or cooking.
• Use cold water to cook and prepare baby formula. Do not boil water to
  reduce lead. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water so boiling
  water will not make it safe to drink.
• Use National Sanitation Foundation approved water filtration devices
  for effective lead reduction. You can contact NSF International at
  800.NSF.8010 or NSF.org
  to learn more about approved water filters.
• Be aware that brass faucets, fittings and valves – even those
  advertised as lead free – might contribute lead to drinking water. The
  law allows end-use fixtures, such as faucets, with wetted surfaces
  containing a maximum weighted average of 0.25 percent lead to be
  labeled as lead free.
• If you are concerned about exposure, contact your local health
  department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get
  tested for lead.

For more information on reducing lead exposure in your home, view the
educational video Aqua developed here.
Aqua customers can also call 877.987.2782 for information about having
their water tested for lead.

Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded water
utilities and serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Aqua
America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
WTR. Visit AquaAmerica.com
for more information, or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica
and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica.

WTRG

Contacts

Aqua America
Stacey Hajdak, 610-520-6309
M: 267-297-1866
[email protected]