Is Davis water safe to drink? - Part II

The City has all sorts of warning letters headed our way

Yesterday, before we ran out of space and stamina, we were discussing that alarming, multi-page letter from the City of Davis warning residents about possible lead in our drinking water.

There may also be lead in the toilet and the shower and the water we use to wash our underwear, but that was not fully disclosed.

In any regard, the City was mostly trying to tell us that if there is indeed lead in our water, it's the homeowner's fault and any expenses involved in removing the lead or replacing the pipes that deliver the lead-laden water would be on the homeowner's dime, not the city's.

Let's just say it was not a good day in our humble East Davis starter home where we still haven't figured out how we're going to pay for the turkey and the stuffing and the cranberry sauce that will be devoured by the horde of North Dakotans headed our way for Thanksgiving dinner.

And yes, do not even attempt to discuss the recent election with them before the whipped cream has been splashed atop the pumpkin pie or you might end up planting that pie on someone's face.

The key line in the City's letter that caught everyone's attention was the statement declaring "The City of Davis has identified that your water service connection is considered a lead-status unknown service line on the customer-side only."

In other words, the City actually has no idea what sort of pipe is delivering your water. But it could be lead. Or maybe gold or silver or platinum or balsa wood. Who knows?

But then, after scaring the devil out of everyone from here to Esparto, the City asks and answers its own question: "Is my water affected?"

Says the city with its attractive bullet-point format:

1) This is not an emergency

2) Your water is safe to drink and meets federal and state safe drinking water standards

3) You do not need to use an alternative water supply (e.g., bottled water.)

Now they tell us.

Which is all well and good, but I still remember when I was growing up in this town my high school PE teacher yelling "Get the lead out, Dunning" as I was struggling through the mile run with my classmates. And my driver training instructor telling me I had a "lead foot."

Those things have stuck with me for a lifetime.

Makes me wonder what it must be like to live in Leadville, Colorado. Do you suppose their City sends out scary letters like ours does?

Adds the City, "The City of Davis routinely monitors for lead in the water distribution system and the most recent water sample results received in September 2022 showed that the 90th percentile of all lead levels measured in the distribution system was below the detection level of 0.45 micrograms per liter for lead. The action level for lead in drinking water is 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 15 micrograms per liter (ug/L)."

Excuse me while I grab my migraine medicine.