Lead Service Line Replacement Program Background
In recent years, the State of Michigan has adopted new regulations seeking to identify and replace water service lines which may contain lead pipes. The City of Rockford is actively working to follow these regulations with a city-wide program to verify water service line materials and replace lead-containing pipes where they are found. This is a complex and costly process that will take years to complete. The ongoing construction project on Lincoln, Maple, and Courtland Streets is an opportunity to make significant progress with lead or galvanized pipe replacement as part of the overall city wide program.
Lead or Galvanized Pipe – What is the Concern?
Years ago, galvanized steel pipes were commonly used for water service lines and were often connected to the public water main using a short piece of lead pipe known as “pig tail” or “goose neck”. Those lead connectors have the potential to allow lead particles to leach through the water and adhere to the galvanized steel pipe throughout the rest of the service line. Those particles can be dislodged with vibrations from construction, allowing lead to leach into the drinking water supply for the home. For that reason, the entire length of galvanized steel pipe is treated as if it were a lead pipe for the purposes of this project.
Additional Links
Information From the State of Michigan:
After Your Water Service is Replaced:
