[Lincolnparkdc] Any experience with lead in water pipes abatement?

[Mark Jordan]

One piece of knowledge I picked up when lead pipes in schools was most
recently an issue:

There are two kinds of lead in water:  soluble (i.e., lead dissolved in
water) and particulate (i.e., discrete pieces of lead that slough off of a
lead source, which are typically smaller than the eye can see).  Both
types, when ingested, are toxic.

I raise it only because it's relevant to decisions to replace pipes based
on the results of a test of lead levels in your water.  If you have a lead
pipe servicing your house and pieces of lead occasionally break off as
particulate, they may or may not end up in a sample you collect for
testing.  In other words, you may end up with false negatives.

Thanks.

Mark


On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 10:02 PM Ken Jarboe <kpjarboe at gmail.com> wrote:

> Some of the feeder line on Capitol Hill are galvanized iron. You can test
> this by seeing if a magnet will stick to the line where it comes into the
> house (before the shutoff valve. See
> https://www.dcwater.com/identifylead
>
> On Sep 3, 2020, at 7:59 PM, Peter R <CapHillPeter at doofuscorp.com> wrote:
>
> There is a lot of information available at www.dcwater.com.
> Try: https://www.dcwater.com/voluntary-replacements
> and https://www.dcwater.com/replacelead
>
> For a map showing if DC Water thinks you have a lead service line (they are
> not always right), see
> https://geo.dcwater.com/Lead/
>
> Many years ago, when the water supplier to DC Water (then called WASA)
> switched from chlorine to chloramine, it caused lead to leach into the
> water.  They later added chemicals to prevent that from happening, and the
> lead levels in our water have gone down significantly.  So much that DC
> Water has cut way back on lead line replacements and is no longer
> considered
> to be a "problem city".  Most houses with lead pipes now register
> more-or-less acceptable lead levels (including mine).  But they do admit
> that all lead lines need to be replaced eventually.
>
> On Cap Hill, the city owns your front yard, up to the face of the house.
> DC
> Water is responsible for replacing that portion of the pipe, but due to
> problems many years ago, they will only replace their part if you replace
> your part.  If I recall, DC Water will do your part for a flat fee of
> around
> $500, but I may be recalling wrong.  DC Water's customer service line
> (354-3600) is pretty helpful sometimes, so give them a try.  They will
> probably transfer you to the lead pipe department.
>
> Replacing the shutoff valve at the same time is a very good idea, and may
> be
> something that is standard.  If you have old copper pipes, or older
> iron/steel pipes (that is, not plastic pipes), you may also want to add an
> *electric* shutoff valve also.  This can be wired into a basement water
> detector so that when the inevitable leak or burst pipe/water heater/washer
> hose occurs the detector can shut off your water.  You will still have a
> flood, but you won't have a swimming pool.
>
> If you are really concerned about lead and cost, the cheapest solution is
> to
> get a filter pitcher or filter on your kitchen faucet.  Lead won't hurt you
> in the shower or laundry, only your drinking water.
>
> --Peter--
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cathie Woteki <uygp-hs47 at DoofusCorp.com>
> Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2020 6:08 PM
> To: lincolnparkdc at lincolnparkdc.info
> Subject: [Lincolnparkdc] Any experience with lead in water pipes abatement?
>
> * Replies will be sent through Spamex to lincolnparkdc at lincolnparkdc.info
> * For additional info click -> https://www.spamex.com/i/?v=127628876
>
> We were approached by a representative of United Construction Services
> about
> lining the water pipe coming into our house with new copper pipe as well as
> replacing the shutoff valve for a cost of $1200.  Has anyone on the list
> done this?  What was your experience?
>
> Thanks for whatever information you can provide!
>
> Cathie Woteki
>
> Cathie, her iPad Mini
>
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