Lead Service Line Upgrades Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

In October 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule strengthening protections for lead and copper levels in drinking water and outlining requirements for the replacement of lead service lines. To comply with this rule, the City of St. Louis is now updating its inventory of water service line materials including lead service lines.

Learn how to identify and report the material of your service line.

Answers

How will this affect me?

In November 2024, the City of St. Louis Water Division contacted through the mail all property owners whose service line material is categorized as lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown. Water customers were asked to respond to a survey online or by phone to help the Water Division update its inventory.

How do I find out if my service line is made from lead?

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has created this video guide to help identify your service line material.

Who owns the service line to my property?

Service lines are entirely owned by the property owner.

Will my service line get replaced if it's made from lead?

The City of St. Louis Water Division is aggressively pursuing grant funding to pay for replacement of lead service lines on behalf of the property owners; this program will require applications and have eligibility requirements. At this time, City ordinances do not allow for the replacement of privately owned lead service lines using revenues collected through water rates. The City is developing a zero-interest loan program to assist property owners who choose to replace their lead service lines at their own expense.

Who will pay for replacing my service line?

Currently, property owners are responsible for replacing service lines, because service lines are owned by the property owner. However, the City of St. Louis has applied for federal funding, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to provide financial assistance for qualifying property owners seeking to replace lead service lines. While the City is developing our lead service line replacement plan, we cannot currently give more specific information about this assistance until the plan has been completed and a replacement program to distribute the funding has been implemented.

Is my water safe to drink?

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can result in new learning and behavioral problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavioral problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have an increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person’s total lead exposure. Infants who drink baby formulas and concentrates that are mixed with water containing lead are particularly at risk. The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.

For more than 20 years, the City has been treating its water with an optimized corrosion control treatment strategy, which minimizes the absorption of lead from customers' service lines or internal plumbing. The Water Division routinely tests City water, and this treatment has been shown to be effective in keeping lead levels in customers' homes well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level of 15 parts per billion, and also well below the 10 ppb action level set to take effect in 2027. The Water Division tests water quality at the treatment plants multiple times a day and tests the water at a representative sample of homes with lead service lines to meet the EPA’s regulatory requirements for compliance.

What can I do to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water?

Run the cold water to flush out lead. If a faucet has not been used for several hours, allow the water to run at the tap for 1 to 2 minutes or until it becomes cold and reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes. The water you run from drinking water taps does not have to be wasted; you can use this water for cleaning purposes or watering plants. You may want to keep a container of drinking water in your refrigerator so you don’t have to run water every time you need it.

Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not drink or cook with water from the hot water tap, as lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.

Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead content.

If water testing has shown you have elevated lead in your drinking water, you may want to consider purchasing bottled water or a water filter. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead, with NSF/ANSI 53-2021 labeling, or contact the National Sanitation Foundation at 800-673-8010 for information on performance standards for water filters. If you choose to install a lead-removal filter, be sure to maintain and replace the filter device according to the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.

Additional information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available on the EPA website or on the St. Louis City water website.

How do I tell the City what material my service line is made from?

Respond to the online survey here, email us at LSLInventory@stlwater.com or call the Water Division at (314) 771-2255.