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Lead found in east Medford water Friday Oct 21, 2016 at 4:54 PM Oct 21, 2016 at 4:54 PM Damian Mann Mail Tribune @reporterdm Lead levels 190 times higher than federal standards have been discovered at a house on Hillcrest Road in east Medford. The results, released by the Medford Water Commission, are part of the latest round of testing at residences where lead connectors known as pigtails have been found. The house on Hillcrest Road tested at 2,890 parts per billion of lead Sept. 14, exceeding the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. Meanwhile, at a house on Newtown Street in southwest Medford, lead levels of 1,110 ppb were detected Sept. 13. So far, the Water Commission has found 21 lead pigtails and has removed 19. "The number of pigtails, while not high, is a concern," Water Commission board member Bob Strosser said. "The purpose of this exercise is to find them and fix them." The samples from the Newtown and Hillcrest homes were taken after water had sat inside the pipe for at least six hours. The high readings were from the section of pipe that contained the lead, which is typically near the street. At two residences on Newtown that are fed by the same service lines, a sample of water collected at the meter showed 27.6 ppb of lead. After the pigtail was removed, subsequent tests at the kitchen tap showed even higher levels of 55.5 and 317 ppb. Water Commission crews replaced aerators at taps, suspecting they might be the source of lead. Water Commission crews offered to check all residences where pigtails have been found, but they couldn't take reliable tests because of numerous leaks found. As part of the testing process, water must sit in the pipes for a minimum of six hours.  Also, many customers have declined to have their water tested or don't want follow-up tests to confirm lead levels have dropped below the federal threshold. "It's their right to say they don't want the testing," Strosser said. "We're standing there saying we want to help." During the testing, leaks have been discovered on the customer side of the meter as well as on the Water Commission side. Interim Water Commission Manager Eric Johnson said the waterlines are under pressure, so it would be difficult for organic contamination of the water supply from leaks. "As long as the pressure is going one way, it's pushing everything out," he said. Leaks under lawns typically result in squishy soil that can be readily identified, Johnson said. Leaks in Water Commission lines are repaired as quickly as possible after they're discovered, he said. The lead pigtails have been found in waterlines dating back to the early 1900s. Water testing has been conducted on only three houses with pigtails. On Oakdale Street, a waterline that fed multiple residences showed lead levels of 439 ppb June 23, but the levels dropped below federal thresholds after the pigtail was removed. Another test was conducted June 29 at a vacant lot on West Main Street where no pigtail was located. Lead levels at the meter box registered 26.4 ppb. Blood testing has been offered at residences where pigtails have been found, but to date none of the residents have accepted the offer. The Water Commission has agreed to pay up to $250 for each blood test. However, Jackson and Roosevelt elementary schools, as well as Providence Medford Medical Center, have also found high lead levels and fixtures were removed in those buildings that were suspected of contributing to the contamination. Some newer faucets and fixtures have lead in them that can leach out into the water. After the schools found elevated lead levels, the Water Commission collected 23 samples from service lines, and the results came back well below federal action levels. The Water Commission has geared up for a corrosion study that will determine how much the pure water from Big Butte Springs, which is the valley's main water source, leaches metals from pipes. One of the goals of the study will be to determine what to add to the water to prevent it from leaching metals. The Commission recommends all Medford homeowners run their water for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking to flush pipes, or until it runs cold, particularly after the water has been in the pipes for an extended period. For children, low levels of lead exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells. — Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.