The Grinnell Department of Water plans to replace lead service lines in town, hopefully in the near future, said City Water Director Keagan Richmond.
“How that is going to happen is kind of still up in the air,” Richmond said. “We’re working on a plan to replace as many service lines as we can afford here in the near future. We don’t know the timeline.”
On Oct. 8, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that drinking water systems across the country are required to replace all of their lead service lines within 10 years.
After an Oct. 16 inventory of lead services, including an online survey, the Grinnell water department notified less than 3,000 residents and businesses throughout Grinnell of possible lead service lines at their properties.
“The Grinnell water department does not put out water with lead,” Richmond said. “Lead comes almost 100 percent from lead service lines or lead in plumbing fitting inside of homes. But we treat the water with corrosion control products so that the lead does not leach into the water.”
When lead service lines break, they must be replaced instead of repaired.
“A few years ago, we banned the repair of lead service lines,” Richmond said. “Disturbing a lead service line can cause more lead to get into the water, because you’re exposing bare lead services to the water.”
Richmond said about a third of the service lines he knows in Grinnell are lead. The water department conducts tests at 40 different residences twice a year to test for lead and gauge the corrosivity of the water.
“We’ve been passing with flying colors, so not much to worry about there,” Richmond said. “There’s just the potential of getting lead in the water when those lead service lines are still out there.”
Lee Sharpe, senior professor of biological chemistry, chemistry and environmental studies at the College, said he doesn’t see health risks with the planned water system, as the new system will maintain the water pH at eight or above.
“As long as you keep the water chemistry right, it’s really not a health problem,” Sharpe said.
The department advises residents to contact their water utility at krichmond@grinnelliowa.gov to learn more about lead levels in drinking water.
