City needs help finding lead pipes

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook is asking for your active participation, property owners, in identifying the service line entering your residence.

The Water Department has worked diligently this past year to accomplish the EPA’s monumental lead-line service inventory.  The Biden administration introduced the regulation through the Environmental Protection Agency that mandates the removal of lead pipes from water systems across the United States within the next ten years. The primary objective of this mandate is to ensure clean and safe drinking for all Americans, addressing concerns related to aging infrastructure and reducing lead exposure.

The federally mandated inventory of all water service lines in the distribution system is required by Oct. 20, 2024. The City of McCook Water Department is excavating each service in town with a hydro excavator and acquiring much information.

However, they can not physically enter each residence to obtain additional information.

“We have 60 days to get everything compiled and sent in.” Pat Fawver, the Utility Director for the City of McCook, said.

They recently sent out a postcard with a link to the survey to try and achieve this goal, but the results could have been much better. 

Of the 3,600 postcards received, there were only around 250 responses. If they have no information on a particular water service, the EPA will assume the service line is lead, which means it will go on a list to be replaced regardless. 

The City will not have a choice in the matter.  If  2,000 services are unknown because they did not receive a response, they will have to replace 2,000 services that will be assumed lead at the cost of the City Water Department/ratepayers. Your response can prevent unnecessary replacements and save costs for the community.

Residents can go online to the City Website to fill out the survey

To Determine if you have a lead service line, check your records. If your home is older than 1988 and has the original service line or plumbing, then your home may have a lead service line or a lead component.

Inspect the service line yourself. These lines typically enter your home through the wall facing the street on the lowest level, but each setup can be unique. You can check the incoming line with a magnet or scratch test. Gently scratch the surface of the pipe with a coin.

If the pipe is soft, easily scraped, silver, and a magnet doesn’t stick, it will likely be lead.