As the fallout continues from the lead water crisis in Flint, Michigan, local officials say it is unlikely that a similar situation will occur here.
Joel Alexander is the communications manager at Springfield City Utilities.
“Lead specifically, we are required by regulations to check for that at least every three years and we’ve had no indicators that show that we have an issue similar to what’s going on in Flint Michigan”.
The utility takes between six to eight thousand samples of water annually, he says.
It’s not just frequently checking and cleaning current water supplies, it’s stopping potential pollution before it starts. That includes, among other things, street sweepers. Carrie Lamb, Springfield’s Water Quality coordinator, says the machines reduce contamination in the streets that could potentially runoff into our waterways.
“The storm drains along our streets do flow directly into our streams and lakes so streets sweeping is one way that we can help keep our streams and lakes clean”.
She adds that citizens can play a role in diminishing the amount of waste cleanup that’s needed, such as by keeping yard waste out of the streets.