No Columbia homes exceed action levels for lead, copper in latest round of water testing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Water and Light has received the results of the second round of required lead and copper water sampling, according to a Monday press release from the City of Columbia.

According to the release, results show that the City remains in compliance with the lead and copper action levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Of 100 water samples taken by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 57 homes had no detectable lead, 43 had lead detected below the action level and none were above the action level, the release states. The samples came from single-family homes or apartments with known lead lines, pipes or solder, Water and Light said in a news release.

According to the release, the action level is the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. The EPA's action level for lead is 15 parts per billion, the release states. For copper, the action level is 1,300 ppb. All samples tested below the threshold for copper, the release states.

The city's testing program came under scrutiny earlier this year after Water and Light revealed it had failed to collect test samples in accordance with the law. The results from the first round of testing were reported in June.