A new interactive map is the next step in replacing all lead pipes across Minnesota
Letters are increasingly being sent to homeowners informing them whether water is flowing through lead pipes.
It is part of the Minnesota Department of Health's Lead Service Line Replacement Program – an initiative aimed at eliminating all lead service lines in the state by 2033.
Lead service lines are pipes that connect the main water to your home, and according to the state, there are still thousands of homes in Minnesota that have such lines.
Recently, all municipal water supply teams were tasked with searching for leading supply lines and then reporting that information to the MDH. Now there's an interactive map that highlights this information – allowing users to check the status of their home and explore other parts of the state.
“I believe we are the only state that releases this kind of information,” said Corey Mathison, chief engineer at MDH, who is leading the effort. “We preserved 99.9% of inventory across the state, which was fantastic,” Mathisen added of community information sharing.
“More exploration will be needed over the next few years, but it’s a great first step,” Mathisen said.
Some of the replacement work is already underway, including in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth, according to MDH.
“[Letters] will also be distributed to Minneapolis residents in the next few weeks,” said Annika Bankston, the city’s director of water treatment and distribution.
“We have done a lot of good work in our treatment and water distribution processes to control this [lead] Exposure,” Bankston said.
Exploring the state's interactive map shows many properties with leading service lines in Minneapolis. Thanks to state and federal funding, the replacement work currently does not cost the homeowner.
“We're actually completing our first project, which is in a relatively small area, but we're learning a lot about how to implement these projects,” Bankston said.
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