Troy, New York, is grappling with a severe water crisis as high concentrations of lead in the water running through the city’s aging pipes surpass those recorded at the height of the lead poisoning crisis in Flint, Michigan.
The latest water quality report produced by the city shows lead in Troy’s water exceeds 35.4 parts per billion (ppb) at the 90th percentile of testing, surpassing the 25 ppb found in Flint about a decade ago. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prompts water utility owners to take action to reduce the levels at 15 ppb, and Troy’s water has been testing at or above that threshold consistently since at least the start of last decade, EPA documents show.
No amount of lead is considered safe, and the effects of lead poisoning pose serious developmental health issues for children, international health authorities say. …