LEAD SERVICE LINES
How did lead end up in the City of Flint’s Water?
You've probably heard about the Flint Water Crisis. Read on to learn what happened.
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Click here to skip to our Lead Testing Results.
Lead does not originate from source water but rather corrodes from the Lead Service Lines (LSL) that bring water to our homes. Corrosion depends on the characteristics of the water – the acidity (pH), the mineral content (alkalinity), the temperature how long the water stays in the pipe, and the amount of lead it comes into contact with.
The brownish-red color is actually caused by the corrosion of iron in the pipes.
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The City of Flint had been sourcing its water from Detroit until 2013, when they switched to water from the Flint River. When changing water supplies, they didn’t consider the effects that changing the water chemistry would have on the corrosivity of the water.
Every water has different chemical characteristics that affect corrosion potential.
Water treatment utilities must use techniques called Corrosion Control techniques. These treatment techniques allow for the buildup of a passivation layer, or mineral crust, on the inside of the pipes. This mineral crust is relatively insoluble, and resists further corrosion and leaching of the pipe material into the water.
When Flint changed their water supply, they changed the water chemistry as well. This caused damage to the protective passivation layer. The pipes were no longer able to resist corrosion and leached lead into the water.
Corrosion control is used to ensure a higher acidity (pH), and higher mineral content (alkalinity). In addition, a chemical called Orthophosphate is added to the water. If the City of Flint had added orthophosphate to the water, the amount of lead that leached would have been much less.
What could the City of Flint have done differently?
Utilities use corrosion control Techniques to prevent lead in water.
Lead service line with a passivation layer (right) and corroded (left)
Learn even more about the Flint Water Crisis and how lead can get into drinking water.
What we do to prevent lead corrosion
At LACWD, we carefully control the water chemistry, including maintaining a high pH and mineral content, as well as adding orthophosphates to the water. In addition, we have successfully removed thousands of miles of service lines that contain lead. Read more about our efforts to replace lead service lines.
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Our test results
At LACWD our goal is to keep every consumer informed about what’s in their water. We go above and beyond the regulatory requirements to empower the public with the information they need.
The map below shows the results of every lead test that was conducted since 2014. If detectable lead concentration is found in one area, it is possible that other homes in that area may have similar lead concentrations. This information helps our consumers take steps to protect themselves and their families.
The dots on this map show where lead testing samples were collected. Darker dots mean less lead was detected!
Removing lead service lines is the goal
While at LACWD we carefully control the chemistry of our water to prevent corrosion, the best long-term solution is replacing lead service lines. Lead service lines have two parts - one that is publicly owned in the middle of the street, and one that is privately owned, under houses and front yards. While LACWD has made efforts to remove the lead service lines that are publicly owned, it is up to individual residences to remove the LSL under their own properties. If you believe that you have lead service lines, you may qualify for our lead service line replacement program. Click here to learn more.​
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Find out if you have lead service lines
Identifying if you have lead service lines can be a difficult problem because the leaded pipes may be buried under the street. There are several strategies you can use to determine if you have lead pipes.
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Physically inspect your piping.
Learn how to identify lead pipes in your home
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Talk to your neighbors to find out if they have any knowledge about their own service lines.
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Get your water tested for lead. You may qualify for free lead testing. Call our water hotline at (213) 367-3182. for more information.
A scratch test is one way to test for lead service lines in your home
Lead service lines consist of a publicly owned portion in the street and a privately owned portion under the property
What if I discover that my water contains lead?
If discovered that your water contains a high concentration of lead, we will send you a filter, free of charge, that can be installed on your kitchen sink. This filter will remove the lead in your water. It is important that the filter is changed regularly. Once per year, we will send replacement filters for the entire year.
It is important to note that not every water filter can remove lead. When purchasing your own filter, do research to ensure that filter is certified to remove "total lead."
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For additional resources regarding lead service lines, check out the EPA’s Comprehensive approach to minimizing lead exposure.
Lead in schools
Research has shown that lead is particularly harmful to the developing brains of children. It has been shown to cause learning disability and lower IQ. The American Society of Pediatrics adopted a 1 ppb concentration limit, and at some of our schools we do not achieve this.
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At LACWD we go above and beyond the regulatory requirements to ensure that our customers are well-informed. The USEPA Lead and Copper Rule does not require mandatory lead testing in schools. We know that our educators already have a lot on their plates, so in 2019 we went to every school in our city to take samples for lead.
Additional Resources
A lead service line also known as a "goose neck"
