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

Fri Sep 4 09:43:51 EDT 2020

We signed up as well -- were told that they were going to be doing
"several" houses on the block this month, and that they hoped to do 2 a
day.  They were leaving flyers on doors, but called us directly with the
offer.  The guy came in and looked at our pipe and sent a contract later
that day.  The service map (https://dcwater.com/servicemap) shows which
houses have lead pipes (at least which houses they think have lead) --
Paul, interestingly 159 is one of 2 houses on our side of the block that's
listed as having copper pipes inside and out.

Bryan
147 Ky

On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 10:31 PM Mark Jordan <mark at markjordan.me> wrote:

> 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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