Are there inherent differences between Flint’s water supply and Puyallup’s water supply?
The water that Flint was using from the Flint River was different in a number of ways from the water Puyallup uses from our groundwater sources. The Flint River runs through a heavy industrial area in Flint, while Puyallup takes its water from aquifers in protected watersheds. The water chemistry is also quite different. With high levels of chlorides, the Flint River supply was found to be quite corrosive to metal pipes and fixtures. Flint, like many systems on the East Coast, also has cases where the pipes that connect houses to the water system are made out of lead.

The most critical difference between Flint and Puyallup was the fact that Flint was not using effective corrosion control treatment for the water from the Flint River. That lack of corrosion control treatment resulted in significant impacts to Flint’s water quality and the increase in lead being absorbed into the drinking water.

Puyallup Water has been operating sources in the same aquifers for 126 years without exceeding any lead levels. Please call 253-841-5505 for more information.

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1. How does lead get into people’s drinking water?
2. How do high levels of lead in the water affect people?
3. What went wrong with the water in Flint, Michigan in 2014 and 2015?
4. How does Puyallup Water help prevent lead from getting into people’s drinking water?
5. What is Puyallup Water’s process for testing for lead and who sets the rules for that?
6. When did Puyallup Water start testing for lead and why?
7. How does Puyallup Water report lead findings to customers?
8. Who regulates our water supply?
9. Are those regulations protective enough?
10. Who oversees trends in our area’s public health or has access to track lead levels in children in our area? What are they reporting?
11. Are there inherent differences between Flint’s water supply and Puyallup’s water supply?
12. If I’m concerned about lead in my water, what can I do?
13. What homes are at high risk of having lead contamination through the pipes?