Lead pipes are a very hot topic again, especially after the Flint, Michigan water crisis. The water from the Flint River is highly corrosive, which caused a lot of lead from lead service pipes to leach into the water supply. To top it off, it is possible that the water was not treated with an anti-corrosive agent as required by federal law. While the circumstances that created the high lead exposure might be unique to Flint, the existence of lead service pipes is not, as many old homes in Milwaukee and other communities in Wisconsin (Milwaukee is not alone) get their water through lead service pipes. To understand what a lead water service line is, check out this link from NPR or this link from the City of Milwaukee (see the graphic).
Up to 82,000 Homes in Milwaukee May Be Served by Lead Lateral Pipes
Initially, the City of Milwaukee stated that only homes built prior to 1951 were at risk (around 70,000 homes), but now officials are stating that homes built in 1962 and older could also have lead service pipes (around 82,000 homes) (source). While the city may have switched to using copper in 1951, the mandate for using only copper for service lines did not come about until 1962, meaning the private side of the service line may still have lead pipes (source). Also note, even if your pipes are not lead, lead solder may have been used to join the pipes. It was not until 1986 that lead solder was effectively banned from use in drinking water systems (source). Even today, it is still possible for solder containing lead to be used in violation of the law.
How Do You Know What the Service Line is Made Of
While nothing is certain unless you dig up the pipes, paying particular attention to the water line coming into the home (and before the water meter) can give a good indication. Here are some sources to help with identifying service line material (with pictures): ONE, TWO, THREE. Unpainted lead pipes are gray, and if scratched, you will see a shiny, silver color underneath. Lead is also not magnetic. So, if it is still gray after being scratched, and a magnet sticks to it, it is likely galvanized steel. If it has an orange-ish color (like a penny), it’s likely copper. Copper can also turn different colors, including black and a pale green, but you should see the copper color once scraped. Copper is also not magnetic (at least with the magnets you would be using).
If you live in Milwaukee or are considering homes in Milwaukee (including the hot market of Bay View), you can get more information about lead pipes directly from the city here. Caution about the city records: the data only concerns the portion of the service line that the city owns; the fact that homes are not listed as having lead pipes for the city-owned side does not mean the privately-owned side has lead-free pipes. In short, if a home is on one of the lists, it has lead service pipes; if it is not, it still might have lead service pipes.
What to Do If the Pipes Are Lead
You have options and there are ways to mitigate and remove lead from the water. I recommend starting by reading the following links (you will find information/advice about replacing pipes, flushing the pipes, using cold water for cooking and drinking, using water filters, and installing whole house filtration systems):
- Again, for the City of Milwaukee: Lead and Drinking Water
- epa.gov – Basic Information About Lead in Drinking Water
- CDC – Sources of Lead: Water
- Wisconsin DRN – Drinking Water and Lead
One recommendation is installing a reverse osmosis system in the home. Here is what the CDC has to say about reverse osmosis systems:
Reverse Osmosis Systems will remove common chemical contaminants (metal ions, aqueous salts), including sodium, chloride, copper, chromium, and lead; may reduce arsenic, fluoride, radium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrate, and phosphorous. (Emphasis added)
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