Blame this trade group outside experts say Asheville lead exposure could be more widespread, recommend more testing Water Resources Department maintains water is safe to drink despite suspension of corrosion treatment for 19 days

By: John Boyle - December 3, 2024 12:14 pm
the sign in front of an Asheville water treatment facility
The city of Asheville stressed that its distribution pipes do not contain lead, and it has no detectable lead in its main reservoir. (Photo: Starr Sariego for the Asheville Watchdog)

This report was first published by Asheville Watchdog.

Two independent chemistry experts say lead could be more widespread in Asheville’s drinking water following Tropical Storm Helene than the city has suggested and both call for more public education and testing.

Sally Wasileski, chair of the UNC Asheville chemistry department, and Abigail Cantor, a chemical engineer and president of Process Research Solutions, LLC, which consults on municipal water issues, said they recommend residents of homes built in or before 1988, when lead was banned in new plumbing, use bottled water until they test their water.

“We cannot risk widespread lead poisoning, especially on top of all that our community has faced in the wake of Helene,” Wasileski wrote in a letter to the media and larger community in November. “We need a broad investigation of the lead levels at the tap of residences, schools, and businesses who source their water from Asheville City Water.”

https://ncnewsline.com/2024/12/03/two-outside-experts-say-asheville-lead-exposure-could-be-more-widespread-recommend-more-testing/