Big Timber has launched a public education campaign about reducing the risks of lead and copper in its drinking water as it continues to respond to tests this fall that showed high levels.

“We’ve done all the things we’re supposed to do,” Big Timber Mayor Diana Taylor said Wednesday. The campaign includes posters and notices with bills.

The city is taking the matter seriously even though city officials suspect the problem may be isolated.

“We really are convinced the highest levels are just in individual pipelines and not in our system,” Taylor said.

Routine testing in September found levels of 0.025 milligrams per liter for lead and 1.55 milligrams per liter for copper, said Autumn Coleman, of the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The results exceeded the lead standard of 0.015 mg/l and copper standard of 1.3 mg/l. 

The high levels are not considered a violation. But failure by Big Timber to complete all of the follow-up tasks would be, Coleman said.

“They have a lot of stuff to do,” Coleman said. “Big Timber has been really pro-active about complying.”

Big Timber also has to increase its monitoring and submit a corrosion control treatment plan by March 30.

A corrosion control plan could mean the city has to add a chemical or adjust the water supply’s chemistry so the water isn’t corrosive to plumbing, Coleman said.

Big Timber does not have to resample again until next year. The city will have to take 20 samples every six months rather than 10 samples every three years, Coleman said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we find out next year that Big Timber doesn’t really have a lead or copper problem. It could be sampling errors. It could be a number of things,” Coleman said. “I would suspect something is going on with the sample sites. That’s my gut feeling.”

Lead can damage the brain, red blood cells and kidneys and slow mental and physical development.  Children and pregnant women are at greatest risk, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The lead and copper likely is coming from corrosion of pipes and fixtures in businesses and homes where lead-based solder may have been used to join copper or metal pipes, Coleman said. Pipes that connect houses and buildings also may contain lead. Congress restricted the amount of lead in solder and piping in 1986.

People can reduce their exposure by flushing their lines before using water for drinking or cooking, Coleman said. Running the cold water faucet for 30 seconds to one minute will flush the line of lead that may have accumulated, she said.

Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water, so the EPA advises against cooking with or drinking hot water from the tap. If hot water is needed, people should heat cold tap water.

People also can install water filters to fixtures or use bottled water, Coleman said.

The initial tests included high results for the fire hall and an insurance company, both places where water can sit, Taylor said. The structures, built before 1985, had lead in the soldering.

After the high results, the city tested four other sites — city hall, two places in its water supply system and an employee’s house. All tested below the standards, Taylor said.

Big Timber gets its drinking water from the Boulder River.