Hibbing Public Utilities IDs elevated lead levels in drinking water

HIBBING — Hibbing Public Utilities issued a notice Wednesday, Oct. 22, after sampling showed elevated lead levels in some homes and buildings.

The potential source of the lead has been identified as lead service lines to individual homes and other buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for lead is 15 parts per billion. Of the 29 samples Hibbing collected from June through September, more than 10% exceeded the action level, at 32 parts per billion.

Eliot Dixon, the utility’s communications director, said his office tested more than half the homes in Hibbing for lead service lines over the past two years.

“We've gotten through inspections on just over 3,300 homes, but there are still approximately 2,300, I want to say, that still haven't had these inspections performed," Dixon said. "And they're super simple. They're at no cost to our residents.”

Lead from service and plumbing lines and fixtures can dissolve or break off into the water. Boiling water does not reduce the amount of lead in the water, but flushing cold water can help reduce the amount of lead. Using a lead-tested, certified filter for water as well as cleaning the faucet’s screen, or aerator, can also reduce the amount of lead.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants and young children. Lead’s health effects to children and infants include new or worsened learning and behavior problems and decreases in IQ and attention span.

Hibbing Public Utilities stated other potential sources of lead include air, soil and paint.

"While this does not mean that the community as a whole is affected, all residents need to understand the situation and take steps to protect themselves and their families," stated the news release.

Hibbing Public Utilities is offering free water testing and is committed to securing more than $2 million to fund lead service line replacements through 2027, according to a release.