By the Seward Environment Committee
Recently some neighbors received a letter from the City indicating their property had some lead water piping. But perhaps you thought you had paid to have “copper to the street” installed, and/or perhaps you looked at your water meter (in your basement, if you have one) and see a copper pipe going into the ground.
Confused? So were several Seward neighbors, so here’s the explanation. That copper water pipe in your building goes into the ground and stops at a “stop box” (a buried water shut-off valve) located in the boulevard. IF the pipe going from the stop box to the water main pipe in the street, however, is lead, you got that City letter. It explains that by 2037 the City will replace that short lead pipe (or it might be galvanized pipe) free (at a cost of several thousand dollars).
In the meantime, the City adds a chemical to drinking water that creates a protective scale inside lead (and all) pipes that prevents lead from getting into the water. Minneapolis provides for “corrosion control” during the water treatment process. Corrosion control works by adding a chemical to the water called ortho phosphate to create a protective scale on pipe materials that prevents lead from getting into the water. The City also targets a pH of 9.0 to ensure the water is not corrosive and pipe surfaces will not leach lead if the water comes in contact with it.
Call the City at 612/673-5600 if you want to clarify this confusion for your property. And if you want to order a free water test for lead, see https://www.minneapolismn.
This map helps customers identify whether they have a lead water service line. https://www.minneapolismn.gov/
Remember, even if you do have a lead service line, that doesn’t guarantee you have lead in your water. It just means you want to be mindful and take the extra steps below to stay safe.
Residents with a lead water service line can take the following steps:
– Always use cold water for cooking and drinking
– Run your water for a few minutes before using it
– As a precautionary measure, you can use a lead-reducing filter or pitcher.
