As time goes on lead poison continues to become more of a buzz word for new homeowners, pregnant women and families with young children. The fist step that most take is to obtain a test on the lead levels of the water entering their home. They make at home tests which some towns or villages may provide for free. In some cases the town may perform the test with their own employees and send the test to a lab for results.
It is always suggested to have a professional company perform the test to mitigate the possibility of any errors. When dealing with lead poison, it is not something you want to find out about years later. If you have been made aware of unhealthy lead levels in your water, it is suggested to remove all of the lead pipe feeding water into your home.
If you internal pipes are buried behind walls it is suggested to start from the furthest point out in the street, and work your way back. First have your licensed master plumber obtain city records to determine what type of pipe you have below the street, into your house. It is possible that a visual inspection is completed however, there are cases where you may have copper on the inside and sections of lead pipe below the sidewalk.
Once you replace the lead pipes from the street with copper, it is suggested to perform another lead test to obtain additional information on the pipes in your house. If the second lead test comes back positive, it is safe to assume that the pipes on the inside of your house are made of lead and you have additional piping replacement to complete.
It is important to be aware that repairs on a lead water main are completely illegal in NYC. If your plumber is attempting to repair a lead water main please be mindful that he is jeopardizing his license, your health and potential fines for illegal work.
One common question that continues to arise is “how is it allowable for a city contractor to repair a lead pipe?” In these cases a city contractor may replace the city water main and as part of the job, he has to re-connect the new water main to an old lead pipe by using a section of copper.
It is common to have additional questions regarding your lead water main upgrade. Please make sure you speak with a licensed master plumber on all details.
