Homework - Lead in the water!

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Story:
New York City The city is advising New Yorkers to run their tap water for at least 30 seconds before using it, after the Department of Environmental Protection discovered elevated levels of lead in a recent tap water sampling. The problem was found mainly in older buildings where lead plumbing was commonly installed and is still in use.

"These types of service lines and fixtures were phased out nearly two decades ago, but they are still found in many homes and under certain conditions lead can leach from the pipes and fixtures into tap water," said DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway.

Those pipes and fixtures are often found in buildings built before 1961 and some plumbing lines installed between 1983 and 1986. DEP believes about 100,000 buildings are affected, including apartment buildings, individual homes and businesses.

High levels of lead can cause serious neurological problems, especially in young children and pregnant women. Yet health officials say the public should not be alarmed by this announcement, only aware.

"Run your tap. The water is healthy to drink. When you run your tap until it's cold, you're getting the New York City main water and that's very safe and healthy," said Dr. Thomas Farley, the city health commissioner.

DEP does lead testing every year as a federal requirement, and if results show a more than 10 percent elevated level, the public has to be alerted.

This latest round by DEP's tests showed a 14-percent elevation in samples taken from 126 homes, so the agency is launching a campaign to let people know.

"Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, even after the tap has been run, because lead can dissolve into hot water more quickly," said DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway. "Never boil water to get lead out. Boiling actually can concentrate lead, which is not what you want to do. Clean your faucet screens."

New Yorkers who want to test their water can receive free kits from the city. Call 311 for more information.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is in the water that is bad for you?
4. How many seconds do you have to run the tap in order for the water to be safe to drink?
5. How many buildings are affected?
6. What number do you have to call if you want the free kit to test your water?

Info from NY1