
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993                   TAG: 9305120220
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

EPA: 819 WATER SYSTEMS HAVE HIGH LEAD LEVELS

Unacceptable amounts of lead have been detected in the public water supplies of 819 medium-sized and large American communities, which together serve 30 million people, the Environmental Protection Agency reported Tuesday.

The levels were monitored in residences in areas deemed at high risk for lead contamination and do not represent average amounts for water systems, the EPA cautioned. Nevertheless, officials said they were "very concerned."

In Virginia, the EPA found two water systems serving more than 50,000 people in which the lead level was above the 15 parts-per-billion "safe" amount: Occoquan-Woodbridge with 30 parts per billion, and Richmond, with 25.

by CNB