What are the health risks of lead exposure?
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant people and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Salem continues to provide high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in private plumbing components. The best way to remove risks from lead in water is to replace lead service lines and any lead materials that come into contact with your drinking water.
You can also get exposed to lead through paints, dust, soil, air, and food.
How does lead get into drinking water?
Lead can dissolve into water through lead pipes and other lead plumbing materials or fixtures.
How do I know if lead is in my drinking water?
Because it is colorless and tasteless, lead cannot be easily detected in water. The only way to know for certain whether your drinking water contains lead is to have your water tested by a certified laboratory.
If you are a Salem water customer and do not receive a letter to schedule a free test of your service line, you can request a free test of your water through the city’s lead testing program by calling the Water Quality Hotline at 503-588-6323 or emailing water@cityofsalem.net.
Isn’t my water treated against the risk of lead?
Your drinking water is lead-free when it leaves the City’s treatment plant. What’s more, we treat it to be less likely to absorb lead from pipes or fixtures on the way to your faucet.
How can I reduce the risk of lead in my water?
The best way to remove risks of lead in water is to completely replace all sources of lead. But there are also steps you can take right away.
1. Run the tap before use: Lead levels are likely at their highest when water has been sitting in the pipe for several hours. You can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes—this allows you to draw fresh water from the main. Taking a shower, doing laundry, or running the dishwasher can also help flush your pipes.
2. Clean aerators: Aerators are small attachments at the tips of faucets which regulate the flow of water. They can accumulate small particles of lead in their screens. It’s a good idea to remove your aerators at least monthly and clean them out.
3. Use cold water for cooking: Always cook and prepare baby formula with cold water, because hot water dissolves lead more quickly, resulting in higher levels in water.
4. Filter the water: Many home water filters are effective at removing lead. If you purchase a filter, make sure it is certified for lead removal and that you maintain it properly. Find out more on filter certification at nsf.org.
Why are you creating an inventory of service lines now?
The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently revised its Lead and Copper Rule to reduce exposure of lead through drinking water nationwide. We’re meeting these regulations to continue providing high-quality drinking water to our customers.
What is a service line?
The service line is the pipe that runs from the water main (the City’s primary underground pipe that runs under the street) to a home’s internal plumbing. Property owners are responsible for the pipes inside and under their property, up to the water meter. The city is responsible for all pipes on the other side of the water meter. Lead service lines can be a major source of lead contamination in water.
How do I know if my home has a lead service line or lead plumbing?
The City has found no service lines made of lead. Look at our service line inventory map to get an idea of what your service line is made of. Unless you have plumbing records, or the pipe is visually inspected, it may be difficult to know for sure what the material is made of. It will be an ongoing effort to determine service line material during routine utility operations as part of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
In the meantime, you can hire a certified plumber (at your expense) to inspect your service line, indoor plumbing, and other fixtures that are in contact with your drinking water.
If you are a Salem water customer, you can request a free do-it-yourself test kit of your water through the city’s lead testing program. Call the Water Quality Hotline at 503-588-6323 or email water@cityofsalem.net.
Also, you may be able to determine on your own if your service line is made of lead. Service lines typically enter the home in the basement or crawl space. If the pipe is lead, it will have a dull finish that shines brightly when scratched with a key or coin. Using a magnet can help you identify a lead pipe, because even a strong magnet will not cling to lead.
This guide from the EPA walks you through the steps: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/protect-your-tap-quick-check-lead-0
I live in a new building. Am I at risk?
In 1986, lead pipes were banned in the United States and plumbing materials were required to meet federal “lead-free” specifications. If your property was built before 1986, you may be at a higher risk.
Lead can also come from plumbing fixtures, so be sure to only install lead-free fixtures.
If you are a Salem water customer, you can request a free test of your water through the city’s lead testing program by calling the Water Quality Hotline at 503-588-6323 or emailing water@cityofsalem.net.
Are copper pipes dangerous to my health?
Like lead, copper can leach into drinking water from the pipes. However, while copper is necessary for the human body to function, it can be toxic at high levels. The highest copper value measured in 2022 for the City’s water at a customer’s faucet was 520 micrograms, well below the maximum daily limit established by the federal government.
See our annual water quality report for more information.
