KINCAID, Ill. (WAND) - Many Kincaid residents received letters on Wednesday indicating concerns over water quality.
The first line of the letter read: "The Village of Kincaid found elevated lead levels in drinking water in some homes/buildings." The letter went on to explain the health impacts of lead exposure, sources of lead and ongoing pipe replacements the village is completing.
Devin Stockdale, who has lived in the village for five years, said the letter was the first time he had heard about this when they were working on the pipes.
Kincaid Mayor Tony Pezze said the village is finishing the first phase of replacing lead and galvanized service lines. They plan to start the next phase soon, which will include replacing more than 100 lines.
"It's not every house, and it's just a lot of old galvanized lines, old lines," Pezze said. "And the requirement from EPA was don't just send a letter to them people send it to everyone."
When WAND News asked Pezze how members could determine whether they were having pipes replaced or were exposed to lead, he said he believed a survey was sent out earlier. He thinks those with lead lines in their homes should know what the pipes are made of.
"The problem is a lot of people are ignorant on the fact of what lead can do to you and stuff like that," Pezze said. "And then they're just not up on it. And I wasn't either till I read up on it. But you know there's a lot of homes that have it and need to get taken out."
Pezze said the village is replacing lines up to when they reach a home. That work is covered through a grant. Homeowners are responsible for replacing any pipes of concern inside their homes.
Stockdale said he has been researching the impacts of lead and what he can do to reduce exposure for himself and his family. His main concern is how long they have been in contact with the lead, without knowing it was in the water.
"I'm concerned for me and my family, that's all I'm worried about," Stockdale said. "And seeing that it's just like, what else are they doing or what else is going on that we don't know about?"
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