Water board notifies lead pipe properties

Late last month, Creston Waterworks notified by mail 468 property owners that have lead or galvanized water service line. The information only includes information about having those pipes.

The letter is expected to be the first step for the country to replace all lead water pipes within the next 10 years by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA’s announcement was released last month. Creston Water Works General Manager Steve Guthrie said Tuesday the issue has been discussed for months and he is still waiting to know who will be financially responsible for the work.

Of those notices sent within Creston, Guthrie said about 250 properties are all lead. Lead water pipes can cause serious health issues and cause birth and development defects in infants and young children. Lead water pipes may also cause heart disease, high blood pressure and other health issues with adults. The letter provided by Creston Water explains ways to reduce the threat of lead pipes. Filters can be used to reduce lead content. Water faucet aerator (known as screens) should be removed and cleaned of build up.

Hot water also has a tendency to to dissolve lead easier.

The other properties include galvanized. Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have been coated in zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. Galvanized piping is common in homes built before 1960 and was an alternative to lead pipe. Lead pipes were banned in 1986. Research has shown after decades of use, galvanized pipes can corrode and rust on the inside.

The new regulation is stricter than one proposed last fall and requires water systems to ensure that lead concentrations do not exceed an “action level” of 10 parts per billion, down from 15 parts per billion under the current standard. If high lead levels are found, water systems must inform the public about ways to protect their health, including the use of water filters, and take action to reduce lead exposure while concurrently working to replace all lead pipes.

To help communities comply, the agency is making available an additional $2.6 billion for drinking water infrastructure through the bipartisan infrastructure law. The agency also is awarding $35 million in competitive grants for programs to reduce lead in drinking water.

The 10-year timeframe won’t start for three years, giving water utilities time to prepare.

“I’m still waiting on clarification on how to replace the lines,” Guthrie said. “There may be funds available if the homeowner is responsible.”

Associated Press contributed to this story.