Why you’re being asked to check your pipes for lead

Most South Dakota pipes don’t contain lead, but the state and city are looking for those that still exist so they can be removed.

The city of Sioux Falls’ Water Purification team is participating in a mandatory, nationwide initiative to inventory the location and makeup of public and private water service lines in the community, and they need the help of Sioux Falls homeowners to complete the job. You might have seen a reminder about it in your most recent utility bill.

The primary goal of the inventory is to identify any remaining public and private lead pipes within drinking water systems because lead is a known toxin for humans and animals. Congress banned the use of lead pipes and fixtures in 1986. The inventory is the latest in a decades-long push to remove and replace lead from systems across the U.S.

In Sioux Falls, the city’s Water Purification team has proactively identified and removed lead pipes and fixtures from the water system for the past several decades and has worked with private property owners to do the same.

“Thanks to the foresight of leadership and property owners who came before us, most public and private lead service lines have been replaced in Sioux Falls,” said Ted Lewis, environmental engineer for the city of Sioux Falls. “From the city’s standpoint, we have been methodical about removing lead from the water system for decades. We want people to understand that we are in a good place as a community; however, it is very important to take this inventory seriously so we can identify any remaining lead service lines.”

While the inventory’s primary goal is to identify lead service lines, it is also a means for the Water Purification team to improve and verify the data it has on all service line materials throughout the community, whether it is made of galvanized, copper, PVC or other types. Accurate data supports the city’s mission to provide safe and reliable water service to customers, Lewis said.

“Documenting your pipe helps your family, neighborhood and water provider,” he said. “It’s a simple process that only takes a few minutes, but it can have a huge impact on community health and safety.”

Take this brief survey to complete a quick assessment of your home.

The pipe you’re looking for to test is the drinking water pipe that comes into your home from the street. It is typically located in a utility room on the lowest level of your home. It also could be accessed in a crawl space if your home has one. The idea is to locate the first 18 inches of pipe coming through the floor or exposed in the crawl space. If you have a water meter, it might be on this pipe.

The link will ask you to scratch the pipe with a coin or key and see if the scraped area is silver-colored and shiny. You’ll also be asked to see if a magnet — any magnet — sticks to the pipe.

Then, you can report the results online.

Here’s a video that explains it:

If a property owner identifies a service line made of lead through this process, the information will be shared with the city’s Water Purification team, and then drinking water will be tested while the city works with the property owner about next steps. Removal and replacement of lead service lines on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.

Those with questions can call the Sioux Falls Water Purification team at 605-373-6950.