Lead in home supply pipes?

Last week you may have received a letter from the water department addressing the potential of lead pipes that supply drinking water to our homes. Since the letter arrived, Blue Ribbon Water has received numerous calls from customers and non-customers alike, asking how concerned we should be. For many who I talked to, this letter was alarming and confusing. I too, found it to be quite confusing, so I reached out to the Massachusetts DEP for clarification. I learned a lot from speaking with MASS DEP, and I am passing along what I learned.

Why you received the letter:

The letter was mandated by the EPA to reach every resident in the US on municipal water by the deadline of November 15, 2024. The goal of the letter is to inform residents about the potential presence of lead service lines. This is part of the new requirements under the EPA's enhanced Lead and Copper Rule, which aims to identify and replace lead service lines to reduce lead exposure and protect public health. This will be an annual letter. The letter is NOT saying we have a problem with lead in our water.

Here is a link to the MASS DEP page regarding this rule: Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Mass.gov.

Background:

"Lead pipes were widely used in the United States for drinking water systems and street pipes from the late 1800s through the early 20th century. By 1900, lead piping was common in many U.S. cities for plumbing applications, including transporting drinking water. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the health risks associated with lead became more widely recognized, leading to a gradual phase-out. The use of lead pipes was banned in 1986 under the Safe Drinking Water Act." (from ChatGPT)

The Problem:

There is inconsistent or non-existent record keeping throughout the country and in Massachusetts regarding the location and type of supply pipes that were used. The letter is to let you know that you may or may not have lead pipes coming into your home.

Residents received one of three templated letters (provided by the EPA).

1. If you are known to have lead service lines to your house,

2. if it is unknown what type of service line you have. It asks residents to help by 'self identifying' what type of pipe you have. There is a QR code in the letter that leads you to a survey. Blue Ribbon Water recommends doing the survey the beat you can.

3. that it is known that you do not have a lead service line, and you are in the clear.

How to tell if you have lead pipes coming into your home:

I found this useful article on how to identify pipe type: 7 Ways to Tell if You Have Lead Pipes in Your Home - Plumbing Sniper

The letter does not seem clear to me if there are also lead pipes in the street, or when pipes that are found to be lead will be replaced.

Blue Ribbon Water now has Lead Test Kits available for purchase on our site.

 What you can do in the meantime:

If you have a Blue Ribbon Water filter for municipal water, the standard carbon filter that is installed is NOT certified to remove lead. To remove lead, the filter cartridge must be NSF 53 compliant. We have NSF 53 cartridges available for all of our filters, as an upgrade. If you are interested in upgrading, contact cammy@blueribbonwater.com.