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1. How does lead get into household water?

Usually, lead gets into your water after it leaves your local treatment plant. The most likely sources of lead in your household water are lead pipes, lead solder, or brass fixtures in your plumbing.

Lead water services were installed in Saint Paul homes built before 1926 and in some homes built during World War ll.

Read more about lead and household water.

2. What can I do to reduce the lead in my water?

First, let it run. Don't drink or cook with water that has collected in your plumbing for more than six hours-overnight, for example, or while you are at work. You can clear the water out of your pipes by letting it run from a cold water faucet for three to five minutes. Run the water before you take drinking water from any faucet in the house.

Second, don't use hot water directly from the faucet for cooking or drinking because hot water dissolves lead more quickly than cold water. It is especially important not to use hot tap water for making baby formula.

Find more on lead and household water.

3. How do I find out if my water service connection is lead?

If your house was built before 1926 or during World War II, you might have a lead water service leading to your home from the street. To determine if this is lead, have someone familiar with plumbing materials look at the water pipe on the street side of your water meter.

If you have questions, call the SPRWS Engineering Department at 651-266-6270 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., weekdays.

4. If my pipes are lead, do I have to replace them?

No, you are not required by any city of Saint Paul code to replace lead pipes. If you are concerned about lead levels in your drinking water stemming from lead pipes, you can have your water tested. If you determine you want to replace the pipes, it is entirely your decision.

Exception: If the pipe is leaking, it must be replaced; it cannot be repaired.

SPRWS is working to replace street portions of the lead service connections in the city of Saint Paul. By coordinating work efforts with Public Works maintenance projects, this can be done systematically and cost effectively. Call our Engineering Department for more information at 651-266-6270.

5. Will you replace the lead pipe if I have a lead service connection?

The service connection from the water main in the street up to your property line will be replaced by SPRWS at no cost. All piping from the property line into the house is the responsibility of the homeowner. You will need to hire a licensed plumbing contractor to perform all the necessary work on your property.

Call our Engineering Department for more information at 651-266-6270.