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Water Authority reinstates synthetic turf incentive program

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Water Authority has reinstated its synthetic turf incentive program after a US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report concluded that young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in newer synthetic turf fields.

On July 30, the CPSC released its evaluation of various synthetic athletic fields. The evaluation indicated that newer fields either had no lead or generally had the lowest lead levels.

Although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of fields as old as nine years, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children.

The report is available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08348.html.

In response to the CPSC report, eligibility for all Water Authority synthetic turf incentive applications will be retroactive to June 26, the original suspension date.

This will ensure that all qualifying applicants will receive the synthetic turf incentives. This covers the residential pilot program, single-family residential customers not participating in a pilot program and public sector customers.

The Water Authority is working closely with member agencies to inform the public that the synthetic turf programs have been reinstated. Individuals should check with their water provider regarding the availability of synthetic turf incentives in their area.

The Water Authority and its member agencies suspended all synthetic turf incentive programs in response to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention health advisory in June that cited concerns about lead levels found in certain kinds of synthetic turf tested in New Jersey.

The suspension was a precautionary measure until more definitive information and a CSPC recommendation on the safety of synthetic turf was available.

The Water Authority sponsors a variety of incentive programs that help cover the cost of product purchases that reduce household and commercial water use. It offers a rebate of $ 0.50 per square foot for synthetic turf to commercial and residential customers and $0.75 per square foot to public sites. Some agencies may offer higher incentives.

The Water Authority does not endorse or warranty specific products for purchase. For more information, visit http://www.20gallonchallenge.com.

 

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