MO residents may qualify for lead pipe replacement program

JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) - Missouri American Water is working to replace lead pipes across the state, including in Joplin homes.

This comes as the EPA requires all U.S.  water companies to inventory their local service lines.

The company will replace the entire service line, including customer-owned portions, free of charge if it contains lead or galvanized steel.

According to a representative with Missouri American Water, Joplin's water is perfectly safe because of how it is treated. But that hasn't stopped the companies efforts to replace lead and galvanized stee l water lines.

Joplin residents may have recently received a letter asking them to identify the material of their pipes.

"We don't know what's out in Joplin in terms of how many lead service lines there are. So what we're doing is asking people, especially if they have homes that were built before 1970 to go to our website, to self-report, or they can schedule a time for a contractor to come out and check," says Christie Barnhart with Missouri American Water.

Because the company does not own the pipes within residents homes, they don't have a complete record of who has lead or galvanized steel pipes and who doesn't. For customers who identify they have these pipes, Missouri American Water is offering to replace the waterlines, including the customer owned portion, for free.

"This is something we just want our customers to know that we're doing at no direct cost to them. Lead and galvanized pipe, they stopped using them for a reason and it is due to possible hazards with that lead leaching into lines. Especially in areas where they don't treat the water, such as we do," says Barnhart.  "It's nationwide and it's just better to replace that line. Also, if it is a lead or galvanized line, it's probably quite old and subject to breaking."

Barnhart says the company is trying to get an inventory of how many homes need to have lead pipe replacement by October. This would allow them to know how much work needs to be done and how they can help those homes in a timely fashion.

"It's something that in the long run could really benefit them. it gives us a chance to maybe give some customers additional peace of mind, maybe add resale value to their home. And it's just something that we take great pride in," says Barnhart.

If you're not sure if you have lead pipes but believe it's a possibility, you can request for a contractor to look through the Missouri American Water website . They'll check the material of your pipes at no cost to you.

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.