Aquarion’s mailing about lead in the water worries many in Westport

WESTPORT – A recent letter from Aquarion Water Co. about the need to check for lead in your water had may businesses and residents up in arms here, according to First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker.

So, the first selectwoman instructed Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich to reach out to Aquarion about the mailing. He was told by Aquarion that “the water has been and will continue to be safe.”

In an email to residents and businesses, Tooker provided a response to the recent mailing with the subject line: “Notice of unknown water service materials.”

“For some, this was an alarming communication, and the Selectwoman’s Office received a number of inquiries,” she wrote. “As most are aware, Aquarion is a public utility, and the town does not manage the water infrastructure. However, the administration has reliable sources and contacts within the company.”

The first selectwoman encouraged residents with questions and concerns to contact Aquarion directly, or research online at Aquarion Water Company .

Aquarion Community Relations Director George Logan explained the reason for the communications last week as part of a directive from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of evolving regulations around the treatment of lead.

“Aquarion consistently complies with all federal and state water quality standards, including those for lead,” he wrote. “Even if a customer has lead service lines, Aquarion is adjusting the chemistry in the water to prevent corrosion that could result in lead in the tap. Before these new rules, that was the long-standing regulations to protect consumers from lead. The lead service line inventory is a belt and suspenders approach across the country to get lead removed from drinking water infrastructure.”

He went on to provide a link to the water utility’s service line inventory map to see what it has on record for a particular address.

Aquarion’s website has a section called Aquarion Learn About Lead. Logan also provided a link to the Consumer Confidence Report for the most recent year for the Bridgeport Main System.