Letters emerge about lead pipe inventory, PHX water officials say not to worry

PHOENIX, AZ — Homeowners across the country are receiving letters in the mail this week as water users need to investigate their main service lines.

Notifications are part of an app Environmental Protection Agency final rule This requires all water systems to detect and replace lead pipes within ten years. But notifications now need to be sent.

Municipalities across the valley are taking inventory of what their water lines are made of and starting sending out notifications about the results.

“We send these letters very carefully. We will do the work, but we do not think this is a systemic problem for the city of Phoenix,” said Deputy Water Services Director Jim Swanson, “So we are confident that water quality will continue to meet or exceed EPA standards.”

Phoenix is ​​investigating 500,000 water lines, half of which Swanson said are not made of any hazardous materials. Apart from approximately 5,000 pipe systems made of galvanized material, the other half is unknown.

The municipality said the galvanized pipes may have absorbed lead in the past and all of them will be replaced.

Swanson said no lead pipes have been found yet.

Water testing is available for city water users who are concerned about their health.

“We will actually go out and take a water quality sample and then present them with the results of that sample,” Swanson said.

To achieve this, you can find pipe inventory, FAQs, health facts, and more information about notification and replacement efforts in the City of Phoenix here: pipes.phoenix.gov.

The EPA recommends that people clean their home’s pipes by running a faucet, showering, or doing laundry before drinking or cooking. They also recommend using a filter and using only cold water for cooking, drinking or preparing food.

Arizona Department of Health Services, List of laboratories testing drinking water statewide.