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Show Much ado about lead according to water expert have grown one centimeter taller or scored one point higher on an IQ test without the lead in their water, but how will we ever know?" he asked. - He explained there are a few simple precautions citizens may take to eliminate any concern they may have regarding lead in the drinking water. He suggests anyone any-one living in a home built in the last five years, should allow the cold water to run until it becomes cooler before drinking it. By doing so, all of the water that has been standing in the pipes will be flushed out before be-fore use. Homes that are older are not as susceptible to problems, according to Bousfield, as the minerals in the water have usually built up around the lead solder used to connect the pipes. This build-up restricts the possibility of lead leaching into the water. The State Health Department has 60 days to comment on the EPA rule which is designed to low- . er lead levels in the drinking water. "We have to decide if the cost is worth the benefit," said Bousfield. He explained the tests alone will cost the state $250,000. If, when the tests are completed, the current systems are shown to exceed the new standards, the cost to treat the water has the "potential to double the current water rates throughout the state," said Bousfield. He said the test requires a certain PH, copper cop-per and lead level. He estimates that two-thirds of the states' systems sys-tems would not meet the new PH levels and one-third would fail the lead requirements. His department is now preparing comments on the proposal. By JUDY JENSEN Editor ,- If the EPA requires tests for lead ' levels in drinking water the costs ' may double the water rates for ' Utahns. ; According to one expert, the tests are unnecessary. "The EPA is just trying to do a number on the American people," said Ken Bousfield, Bous-field, manager of the Drinking Wa- jter Compliance Program for the Utah State Health Department. Mr. Bousfield said the levels of lead in drinking water in Utah have not increased. "We've seen entire generations grow to maturity drinking water with these same amounts of lead and there have been no major problems," said Bousfield. He explained that with the introduction intro-duction of unleaded gasoline in the mid 70's, the amount of lead in the environment has actually decreased. de-creased. Bousfield claims the recent re-cent surge of interest is being sparked by the EPA's need for additional funds. "They need an issue for their drinking water program, so they generate some interest so the people peo-ple will get excited and Congress will get excited and take action to .appropriate funds," he said. Bousfield agreed that too much lead in the human body can cause serious damage, "but they're talking talk-ing about a cumulative effect over a lifetime. We've been in this type of environment for generations without with-out any scientific proof of problems. prob-lems. Maybe somebody would |