Lead Prevention

Housatonic Valley Health District strives to prevent lead poisoning and promote wellness through education. Through this mission, HVHD enforces the State of Connecticut Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Regulations. 

In 1992, Congress included the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, commonly called Title X. HUD developed guidelines on risk assessments, inspections, interim controls and abatement of lead-based paint hazards. Since September 1996, all buyers of pre-1978 housing must be given a warning and up to 10 days to get a lead hazard inspection of assessment. The sales contract must disclose the presence of known lead-based paint. Since September 1996, landlords must disclose the presence of known lead-based paint hazards to prospective lessors of pre-1978 housing.

Our public health nurse and sanitarians initiate an investigation to determine how and why the individual is being lead poisoned. The following two blood lead testing results trigger environmental case management at the local health department level:

1. A venous test result of 5 µg/dL of blood or greater or
2. Two venous tests taken at least three months apart with results between 5 and 19 µg/dL of blood.

Click here to learn more about the State of Connecticut’s “Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program”

Resources

• Lead Poisoning Prevention Fact Sheet
• 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities

Quick Links

• Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
• Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program

Lead in Water Faucets

Many consumers may unknowingly bring a hidden danger into their homes when they purchase faucets online. Some faucets sold on platforms like Amazon have been found to leach lead into drinking water. Lead exposure can cause serious health risks—especially to children, who are more vulnerable to lead exposure.

Lead contamination can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and other severe lifelong health effects. To safeguard your household, always check for NSF/ANSI 61 certification when buying a faucet, which ensures it meets safety standards, and choose lead-free plumbing fixtures labeled “NSF/ANSI 372.” Consider calling your water company or local health department to inquire about testing your water. Don’t let an invisible threat compromise your family’s well-being—choose safe, certified faucets to keep your drinking water clean and lead-free.

Website: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Lead-in-Water-Faucets?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=20250725

Essential Info

• Housatonic Valley Health District strives to prevent lead poisoning and promote wellness through education and a wide range of program activities that relate to lead poisoning prevention, specifically childhood lead poisoning prevention.
• No level of lead is healthy for people, but it is very harmful to children, pregnant women, and adults who have long-term exposure.
• Lead poisoning can cause brain damage, reduced IQ and attention span, learning disabilities, developmental delays, hearing loss, and other health problems such as seizures, coma, and, in rare cases, death.
• HVHD enforces the State of Connecticut Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Regulations.
• For more information, and to make an appointment, call the Housatonic Valley Health District at 203-264-9616, ext 0.

Updated: February 1, 2022