Challenge
As in many water systems in the US, the water leaving Denver Water facilities is lead-free.¹ However, lead can enter drinking water as it moves through lead-containing plumbing fixtures and lead service lines. Denver Water estimated that up to 27% of the service lines throughout the service area were made of lead.
Rather than add orthophosphate (a corrosion inhibitor) as initially directed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, Denver Water worked with state and federal agencies to develop a comprehensive lead reduction program.²
Denver Water’s LSL replacement program launched in January 2020. This program identified the need for the removal of up to 84,000 lead service lines. For the LSL replacement program, they required a point-of-use (POU) filtration solution to provide safer drinking water to residents who are suspected of having an LSL — and they needed it to be quick, easy and sustainable. That’s where Brita® came in.
Solution
Denver Water provides a Brita® pitcher and Brita® Elite filter to every location suspected of having an LSL, along with a new filter every six months until six months after the service line is replaced. The Brita® Elite Filter is certified to meet NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction,³ while maintaining recommended fluoride levels.⁴
It’s also the only lead-reducing pour-through filter that lasts 6 months.⁵ This dramatically simplifies logistics for distribution and tracking to Denver Water residents while also lowering EPA's LCRR 6 month compliance risk, making it the perfect option for their community. Furthermore, Brita® filters create less plastic waste⁶ and are recyclable through its partnership with TerraCycle®.⁷
Results
With an agile supply network, Brita® in partnership with 120Water™ was able to distribute over 100,000 Brita® pitchers with Elite filters to Denver residents in the first 9 months of the program. Research⁸ showed a filter adoption rate of 83% in 2022.
“Access to clean water is a fundamental human right,” Brita’s Director of Marketing, Lauren Kahn said. “We are pleased to partner with Denver Water to successfully deliver safer drinking water as they wait on the long-term infrastructure fixes many of our communities so desperately need.”
Continue Reading
See how Brita® can provide customized solutions for your water system’s LCR remediation efforts. Visit Site
Learn more about Denver Water's Lead Reduction Program Visit Site
References
¹https://www.denverwater.org/your-water/water-quality/lead/what-is-lead-reduction-program
³See certifications. Substances reduced may not be in all users’ water.
⁴Applies to fluoridated municipal tap water
⁵ Based on 120 gallon filter life and average family use of 11 glasses per day.
⁶ One Brita® Elite Filter can replace up to 900 16.9 oz single-use water bottles.
⁷ Product recyclable by mail. Limited availability. Visit www.brita.com/better-world/recycling-filters for more information.
⁸ https://www.denverwater.org/your-water/water-quality/lead/dashboard