Lead pipes in buildings:

This article discusses identification of lead drain or water supply piping, durability, leaks, health questions. We give a brief history of the use of lead supply & drain pipes, we illustrate where you will find and how to recognize lead pipes, and we discuss the question of which lead pipes need replacement and what the health and leak issues really are with lead plumbing.

Our page top photo illustrates an easy-to-spot lead water supply pipe: the building water main entering at left of the water meter. The articles at this website will answer most questions about water supply & drain piping, wells, & water tanks as well as many other building plumbing system inspection or defect topics.

Lead Water Supply & Drain Piping in buildings

How to spot lead water pipes in buildings

Watch Out: Lead Hazard Warning: consumption or absorption of lead into the human body is hazardous, particularly for children but in fact for anyone. [1] & [3-23].

And at least one correspondent, an EPA employee, has expressed his view that there is no level of lead exposure for which they have not found an adverse effect. [23]

Our lead water pipe photo at left illustrates one of quite a few places to look for hidden lead pipes in older buildings: in the plumbing access behind a bath tub or shower.

[Click to enarge any image]

Portions of the following summary are from Carson Dunlop Associates' Home Reference Book, adapted & used with permission:

Lead piping was used between the street main and the house up until the 1950s. A good deal of lead supply line is still in use, and the health authorities indicate that as long as it is used regularly, there is no functional [that is flow] difficulty with it.

Watch out:  some assert that one can avoid the hazards of lead in water when the water has not been run for some time, by running water several minutes before using it.[2]

In fact our own tests conducted in concert with City authorities in Poughkeepsie NY at homes with lead water entry mains confirmed that if the city flushed out nearby water mains and the homeowner flushed out the home's water piping until the water ran cold - that is, was fresh water from the mains - immediately before collecting a water sample to check for lead, the resultant lead levels were very low and were often below the city's minimum acceptable lead levels.[22]

However as we point out in a companion

article LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE

In November 2010 the New York Times reported that in 2009 only 5.4% of samples had elevated lead, but in 2010 tests of 222 water samples found lead from 16-30 ppb in 14% of the samples.

Although at these low levels the city did not consider the lead a clear health hazard, the city advised residents to run water for "at least 30 seconds" before drinking or cooking with it. A similar advisory was issued in 2005.

Watch out: the length of time needed to run water to flush out high-lead-level water that has been sitting in piping overnight depends on the total length of pipe between your tap and the street as well as use by other building occupants.

If you run water at a tap until it is cold you have most likely successfully flushed the lines. This same principle applies to private residences.

EPA Lead limit:

Although most homes have very low levels of lead in their drinking water, some homes in some communities have lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mgL).

Under Federal Law 

water suppliers are required to have a program in place to minimize lead in drinking water by January 1, 1996.

This program includes corrosion control treatment, source water treatment, and public education.

We are also required to replace each lead service line that we control if the line contributes to lead concentrations of 15 ppb or more after we have completed the comprehensive treatment program.

If you have any questions about how the requirements of the lead regulations are being carried out, call your local water department or health department.

Lead water entry mains & Lead Drain Pipes in Buildings

Our photo at above left shows a lead water main entering the building - to the left of the water meter.

Above simliar but larger-diameter lead piping is used to drain plumbing fixtures.

In our OPINION both lead water supply piping and lead drain piping are potentially hazardous sources of lead in drinking water. The lead supply pipe risks are obvious and are discussed in this article. The hazard of lead drain piping are a bit more subtle and rest in the possible discharge of lead containing water into private sewer systems and thus into local aquifers.

The life expectancy of lead water supply piping i

s indefinite in some soils and in more corrosive soils we have plumbers' opinions that the service life of buried lead water supply piping is 40 to 50 years.

The life expectancy of lead drain piping

 may be 50 years or longer, but varies by water corrosivity and amount of use as well as mechanical disturbance. Below we include a photograph and text of corroded leaky lead drain piping below a toilet.

Should We Replace Lead Water Supply Pipes?

Lead water supply piping may be a source of lead contamination of drinking water in some buildings.

Our own tests confirmed that where water is aggressive (leaching out lead from the pipes) and or where water that has been sitting in lead piping over night lead levels can be considerably higher than the US EPA standard cited above.

Our photo (left) shows a lead water supply pipe delivering water below a bathroom sink.

The right-hand pipe from the floor to the galvanized iron tee is lead, which you can recognize by the pipe diameter, by the lead wipe joint at the connection, and if necessary by gently scraping the pipe or using a magnet (lead is not magnetic but then niether is brass). Notice that the left hand water supply riser has already been replaced.

Watch out: our tests have found that running the water until cold water from the street is felt at the tap will reduce the levels of lead in building water and in some tests that lead level was below the current EPA standard.

However in our OPINION and that of at least one writer from the US EPA, because of numerous variables this is not a safe reliable way to avoid ingesting lead.

There may be other reasons besides leaks to replace lead water supply piping, including possible health concerns (arguable), or poor water pressure or flow.

Lead Water Pipes & Poor Water Pressure:

Up until World War II, most of the service pipes in built-up areas were lead. While these generally provide good service, they are small in diameter and may have to be replaced.

Long runs of relatively small (1/2-inch diameter) pipe result in considerable pressure drop, especially with more than one fixture flowing. Solutions include replacement with larger pipe or shortening the runs.

Also, lead is relatively soft, and if building settlement occurs, there is a chance of leakage or crimping the pipe. Leaks can also occur at connections as a result of long-term deterioration.

Another source of water entry main piping leaks is a little more subtle:

Many of the old lead service lines were connected to a galvanized nipple – a short piece of steel that was often in contact with the soil. This pipe rusts on the outside and inside, and may be close to the end of its life. It is often wise to replace this as a precautionary measure.

When Do We Need to Replace Lead Drain Piping?

Leaky lead drain piping:

Lead drain pipes in buildings are often leaky and need replacement. If there is no visible corrosion on the piping and no evidence of leakage, the lead drain pipe may be quite serviceable.

Don't assume that because visible building drain piping in an old house is cast iron that no lead pipe bends were used.

As our lead toilet bend photograph (left) shows, often the toilet in older homes was mounted using a lead drain line.

- Home Reference Book, used with permission.

Extra Costs for Renovation or Repair of Lead Drain Piping

Above: wipe lead joints and lead drains connecting to the cast-iron main plumbing drain stack in an Aladdin Kit home located in New Hampshire. Photo courtesy of reader Brian Smith (October 2020).

More of the history of this home is

at ALADDIN KIT HOUSES

Also, because older brass fittings included lead in their composition,

see BRASS WATER PIPES

Quick Tests to Determine if Building Piping is Made of Brass, Copper, Galvanized Iron, or Lead

Watch out: a lead drain line below a bath tub was identified in our photo at left - found by viewing the floor piping seen at a plumbing access opening in a 1935-built home in Poughkeepsie, NY - with age, becomes an increasting risk of a hidden plumbing leak.

We did not see any signs that the lead drain (the silver-gray colored, bulged horizontal pipe in our photo (left) was leaking.

But because this second-floor bathroom was constructed using a poured concrete floor, and because asbestos pipe insulation was present on the brass hot water supply pipe (parallel to and above the lead drain line shown at left ), when this drain leaks and needs repairs, extra costs will be involved, both to access the concrete encased piping, and to properly handle the asbestos insulation.

Until there is a leak, this piping and the asbestos insulation should be left undisturbed.

• Lead pipes
  
   (red arrow in our photo above): scraping a lead pipe will reveal a shiny silver-white color and soft material.
  
  A lead pipe will not attract a magnet .
  
  Lead pipes terminate in a wider-diameter lead wipe joint that in turn may marry to a threaded nipple or adapter.
• Brass water pipes
  
   (orange arrow in our photo): scraping brass will reveal a shiny yellow color. Brass pipe will not attract a magnet.
  
  Brass pipe fittings are mostly threaded but may on occasion be soldered.
  
  Watch out: some brass water piping contains lead in the brass alloy.
• Copper pipes
  
  may range in color from shiny copper color to black depending on age, location, hot or cold water use, and other conditions.
  
  See COPPER PIPING in BUILDINGS for details. Copper pipe will not attract a magnet.
• Galvanized iron pipes 
  
  (blue arrow in our photo): scraping a galvanized iron pipe will also reveal a shiny silver-white color but the pipe will attract a magnet and most likely you can find threaded pipe fittings.

Reader comment: Ace DuraFlow Epoxy Liner ePipe® Restoration Services for deteriorated or clogged piping

2016/03/21 Bill said:

Have you become familiar with Ace Duraflo's EPipe solution? I encourage you to check it out as it is a much more cost effective way of dealing with both residential lead issues and pin hole leaks. You will also discover they are doing considerable relining of lead service pipes in the UK.

Reply:

Ace DuraFlow EPipe is a procedure using a combination of heating, drying and cleaning (sanding) the interior of deteriorated piping followed by installation of an epoxy liner inside the pipe.

The system is used in the North America, U.K., and other countries. The company's website does not (that I could find) provide much detail, cost comparisons, research or much technical information but the procedure indeed may be suitable for some piping problems depending on the pipe condition. The company notes that their process is suitable for domestic water systems (galvanized, copper, and PEX piping) and non-potable systems.

Please see details at TRENCHLESS PIPE REPAIRS

Lead Pipe Replacement Safety

• Lee S, Lunney K [2021]. Biden takes moonshot approach to replacing lead water pipes. Bloomberg Law, March 31. news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-andenergy/biden-takes-moonshot-approach-to-replacing-u-slead-water-pipes
• NIOSH [1997b]. Protect your family: reduce contamination at home. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-125. cdc.gov/niosh/docs/97-125/default.html
• NIOSH [2021c].EXPOSURE TO LEAD DURING RESIDENTIAL WATER LINE REPLACEMENT ACTIVITIES [PDF] Methner MM, de Perio MA. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. 2019–0192–3377. - retrieved 2023/12/15, original source: cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/ pdfs/2019-0192-3377.pdf
  
  Excerpt from: Key Findings
  
  Some employees had high blood lead levels
  
  Lead was present on employee hands and work gloves
  
  Lead was found on surfaces inside trucks and in the locker room
  
  
• The White House [2021]. Fact sheet: The Biden-Harris lead pipe and paint action plan. Statements and Releases, December 16. Washington, DC: The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statementsreleases/2021/12/16/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-leadpipe-and-paint-action-plan/
• US CDC, REDUCING WORKERS’ LEAD EXPOSURE DURING WATER SERVICE LINE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT [PDF] NIOSH & US CDC, retrieved 2023/12/15, original source: cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2023-141/pdfs/2023-141.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2023141
  
  Excerpt:
  
  Workers who replace lead water service lines may be exposed to lead pipes and lead-contaminated soil while removing the old water lines and replacing them with lead-free lines.
  
  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are between 6 and 10 million lead water service lines in the United States [EPA 2019]. Lead water service lines may be in the walls of structures or underground [EPA 2022; Lee and Lunney 2021] and may supply water to businesses, schools, childcare facilities, and residential homes.
  
  Infrastructure legislation has made funding available to improve municipal water systems and protect public health by replacing lead pipes [White House 2021]. Increased efforts to replace these lines may result in an increased risk of worker exposure to lead-contaminated pipes and soil.
  
  This document provides information about occupational lead exposure and recommendations for protecting workers’ health during lead pipe replacement.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2017-11-16 by (mod) Composition of lead pipes used in plumbing: manufacture of lead piping

Hap

See this article from Scientific American:

MANUFACTURE of IRON and LEAD PIPES [PDF] Scentific American Magazine, original source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/manufacture-of-iron-and-lead-pipes/

On 2017-11-16 by Happy

does any one know what all is in lead pipes like percentage of tin and or antimony

On 2017-10-16 by ken

is ther any way to clean out an old lead pipe water main to increase the pressure in the 3/4 inch main from the street

On 2017-03-24 - by (mod) -

Melissa there was surely not "the" lead pipe nor lead-based solder manufacturer - there will have been quite a few across a number of countries.
Good luck with your case.

On 2017-03-24 by Melissa Sims

Does anyone know who was the lead pipe manufacturer and also who manufactured the lead solder used on cast iron fittings?

On 2016-08-23 - by (mod) - Are lead pipes illegal?

Carol:

An answer to whether or not lead pipes are "illegal" depends on the country in which you live. In the U.S.:
Quoting:

Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act

Prohibition on Use of Lead Pipes, Solder, and Flux

Drinking water fountains

Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) establishes the definition for “lead free” as a weighted average of 0.25% lead calculated across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture and 0.2% lead for solder and flux. The Act also provides a methodology for calculating the weighted average of wetted surfaces.

The Act prohibits the “use of any pipe, any pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, any solder, or any flux, after June 1986, in the installation or repair of (i) any public water system; or (ii) any plumbing in a residential or non-residential facility providing water for human consumption, that is not lead free.”

Additionally there is a prohibition on introducing a pipe, any pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, any solder, or any flux that is not lead free into commerce; unless the use is for manufacturing or industrial purposes.

The SDWA includes several exemptions from the lead free requirements, specifically for plumbing devices that are used exclusively for nonpotable services, as well as a list of specific products: toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves, flushometer valves, fire hydrants, tub fillers, shower valves, service saddles, or water distribution main gate valves that are 2 inches in diameter or larger.

Currently EPA is conducting a rulemaking to clarify issues related to the lead prohibition.

Source: U.S. EPA, retrieved 2016/08/23, original source: www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/section-1417-safe-drinking-water-act-prohibition-use-lead-pipes-solder-and

I do not read in that text a federal requirement that building owners remove existing lead water supply pipes.

On 2016-08-22 by Carol Davison

Are lead pipes ilegal

On 2016-04-12 - by (mod) -

Sure LIsa,

Take a look at the lead hazards article list just above and you'll see an extensive list of guides to lead sources in homes.

On 2016-04-12 by Lisa

Hi, Is there a resourse for the amount/source of possible lead in residential rental (older) buildings?

On 2016-03-21 - by (mod) -

Thanks so much, Bill, I'll take a look and add info in the article above.

On 2016-03-21 by Bill

Have you become familiar with Ace Duraflo's EPipe solution? I encourage you to check it out as it is a much more cost effective way of dealing with both residential lead issues and pin hole leaks....You will also discover they are doing considerable relining of lead service pipes in the UK.

...

Continue reading  at LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE - Lead water supply piping as a possible health concern? Leak concern? or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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• LEAD HAZARDS & FEAR: ENVIRO-SCARE
• LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE
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LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING SYSTEMS

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