Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 23-29, 2016.  Organizations across the country will place special emphasis on engaging and educating the public about preventing potential lead poisoning in the home. Traditionally, the main focus of lead poisoning prevention week has been awareness of risks such as lead-based paint and contaminated soil and dust. However, this year, the focus has been expanded to include lead in water.     

This year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week theme, "Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future," brings attention to the many ways parents can reduce a childs exposure to lead and prevent its serious health effects.  To focus attention on this important topic in the District, DC Water’s CEO and General Manager George S. Hawkins will host the utility’s first ever Facebook Live broadcast.     

“I’m looking forward to using this interactive social media platform to bring awareness to the issue of lead poisoning prevention,” commented George Hawkins. “Helping those that live and work in our community understand how to minimize their exposure to lead is something we take very seriously at DC Water.”     

The Facebook Live event will be held on Tuesday, October 25th from 9:30am to 10:30am EST. Viewers will need to sign into their Facebook account from a computer or mobile device and visit at www.facebook.com/mydcwater to watch the broadcast. Those without accounts can sign up for a free account at www.facebook.com. During the event, viewers are encouraged to submit questions or comments and Mr. Hawkins will respond.

Customer safety is our top priority at DC Water, and we consider lead in drinking water to be a serious health risk. DC Water remains strongly committed to working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct to minimize lead release from pipes throughout the District by controlling corrosion, monitoring for lead at the tap, replacing lead service pipes, educating our customers on the health impacts of lead, and helping them identify and remove lead sources on their property.  For more information about lead in drinking water in the District, visit our website at www.dcwater.com/lead