Report No DWI0639
FLUSHING AT THE CONSUMER'S TAP AS A MEANS OF REDUCING DRINKING WATER LEAD LEVELS LEAD IN POTABLE WATER TECHNICAL NOTE No. 2
DWI0639
NOV 1980
SUMMARY
- This report has been
prepared by the Water Research Centre to summarize the available data
on the likely effectiveness and cost of flushing as a means of reducing
drinking water lead levels.
- For the purposes of this
report,flushing is defined as the drawing off of water from the tap by
consumers, preferably for some useful purpose, before the drawing of
water for drinking, cooking or preparing babies' feeds.
- The available data
suggest that flushing at the consumer's tap could be an effective low
cost means of reducing drinking water lead levels, but other factors
have to be taken into account before a water undertaking recommended
such a flushing policy in any particular area.
- The data presented are
used to suggest what advice might be given to consumers by a water
undertaking where it decided to implement a flushing policy.
- It is generally accepted
that flushing may offer an interim solution in areas where high
drinking water lead levels are found, but that it should not be relied
upon as a long term solution. This view has been endorsed by the Joint
Committee on Medical Aspects of Water Quality.
Copies of this report may be available as an Acrobat pdf download under the 'Find Completed Research' heading on the DWI website.