There are nearly 250,000 pipes carrying drinking water in New York City that are made of lead or may contain lead. But figuring out what to do if you live in a building served by one of those pipes isn’t easy.
Last month, the New York League of Conservation Voters released a map revealing which buildings in the city are served – or possibly served – by lead pipes.
Here’s a quick primer on what to do if you’re worried your home or apartment gets water through lead pipes.
Understand the risk
There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which is odorless and tasteless when dissolved in water, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Young children are most vulnerable to its negative health effects, which include behavioral problems, learning disabilities and seizures.
“If flecks of the pipe come off from corrosion, and you have that coming into your glass, and you drink it, then the lead that is in that is the equivalent of a paint chip,” said Dr. Morri Markowitz, director of the state Department of Health’s Downstate Regional Lead Resource Center. “Once it’s absorbed, that’s how it can travel to all parts of the body to cause toxicity.”
However, the presence of lead pipes does not mean lead is leeching or flaking into water.
Get a test
Free test kits are available from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection or 311. The city’s website notes that it’s currently receiving a high volume of requests for test kits. Test results should be returned within 30 days.
It’s best to flush your pipes before testing by running the water for several minutes.
Replace the pipes
Once it’s established that the home has lead lines or tests indicate lead in the water, the building owner should replace the pipes as soon as possible. President Joe Biden recently ordered landlords to replace all of the lead pipes in the United States — which serve an estimated 9 million homes — within 10 years.
Just replacing all the lead lines in New York city will cost about $2 billion – or $10,000 to $15,000 per home – according to the Department of Environmental Protection. Several local plumbers declined to say whether the city’s estimate was accurate, emphasizing that each job is unique.
Financial relief from local and federal governments is available for landlords who qualify. Here’s an EPA list of federal funding opportunities. New York state also offers funding through the 2017 Clean Water Infrastructure Act and the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. Low-income city homeowners may be eligible for municipal funds to replace privately owned lead service lines.
What if I’m a renter?
Renters should urge their landlords to replace lead pipes. But there are steps tenants can take to protect themselves if their landlords don’t immediately spring into action.
Lead filters are widely available for purchase. Look for ones that are certified by UL Solutions or the National Science Foundation.
Avoid running hot water, even when using a filter. The heat releases more lead from pipes and also makes it dissolve more quickly in water. City guidelines advise tenants to run the water for at least 30 seconds first thing in the morning or when the tap has been off for a while.
“When water is stagnating or not flowing in your pipe overnight or you’re out all day, if your pipe is corroded a little bit, lead could perhaps leach into the pipe,” said Joshua Klainberg, senior vice president at New York League of Conservation Voters.
The group recommends that people regularly clean their aerators, which are located at the tip of their faucets and create a smoother stream of water. Most aerators can be screwed off by hand and cleaned by soaking in white vinegar and then scrubbing with a toothbrush.
But there’s no getting around it: The best way to reduce lead exposure in drinking water is to replace lead pipes.