Denver Water: Lead Pipe Replacement Program Update
In recent years, our water quality team at Save Home Heat Company has written about the Denver Water Lead Reduction Program in email blasts, and also in blog posts focused on filters that can remove the dangerous element lead from water. In this blog post, we’ll provide a comprehensive look at this important program, homes that it may impact in the Denver Metro area, and provide some important details and helpful online links.
What is the Denver Water Lead Reduction Program?
Denver Water, formally known as the Board of Water Commissioners of the City and County of Denver, is a primary municipal water supplier in the Denver area, delivering water to roughly 1.5 million people in the city of Denver and surrounding suburbs. Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program was established and approved in 2019 (and reapproved in 2022) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
The goal of the Lead Reduction Program is to reduce lead exposure to homeowners in the greater Denver area by upgrading older service piping. The program may affect as many as 84,000 homes in Denver Water’s district, older homes in particular. The piping covered in the program, and which is replaced at no cost to qualifying owners, is the customer-owned service line which connects the water main in the street to the plumbing inside the home. While the water supply, itself, is lead-free, lead can contaminate the water as it moves through suspect service lines.
A Little More Background
Lead water line piping hasn’t been prevalent in Colorado since the 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1971 that Denver Water banned the use of lead in customer-owned service lines. The U.S. Congress would follow suit in 1986, as an amendment to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. An analysis completed by Denver Water found that some homes in their service area that were built between 1983 and 1987 may have had lead solder used in the process of connecting sections in the interior plumbing, as well. This interior plumbing is not covered in the Denver Water program.
On a related note, it was in the late 1970s that the dangers of lead paint were recognized and government agencies began taking action. Lead found in dust from paint has been found to be a significant source of lead exposure in the environments in and around many older homes.
Scope of the Lead Reduction Program
Along with identifying qualifying homes that are impacted and replacing affected service lines, the scope of the Denver Water Lead Reduction Program also provides free water-filter pitchers to residents, free water testing for lead, and informational outreach for concerned residents. Denver Water has also taken precautionary steps to increase the pH level of their water supply in order to reduce the likelihood of pipe corrosion; the pH adjustments help slow and reduce the process of lead dissolving into water.
The Potential Health Impacts of Lead Exposure
The potential negative health impacts of lead exposure or ingestion encompass people of all ages and physical conditions, and are especially concerning for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Lead exposure in children may result in:
- Inhibited physical and mental development
- Learning and behavioral disabilities
- Hyperactivity
- Inhibited growth
- Hearing loss
- Fatigue, headaches, and stomach and digestive issues
Lead exposure in adults may cause:
- High blood pressure
- Complications in brain, nervous system, kidney, and reproductive function
- Headaches, stomach pain, and digestive issues
- Constipation
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue and insomnia
- Mood swings
- Loss of sex drive
In severe cases of exposure to or the ingestion of lead, the result can be more serious: seizures, coma, and death have occurred. There is currently no effective medical treatment for lead exposure, and effects are considered to be irreversible.
Current Status of the Denver Water Lead Reduction Program
The Lead Reduction Program began in 2020 and was originally slated to be completed by 2035. The program received federal funding in 2022, which has allowed Denver Water to accelerate the timeline, which is hoped to be shortened by about a year. According to Denver Water, “for every 4,500 additional lead service lines replaced using these funds, the overall length of the program will be one year shorter.”
Denver Water Program Coverage
Using historic documents and investigative research, Denver Water has created a comprehensive inventory of the known and suspected lead service lines throughout their service area. According to the water utility, this list is being constantly updated as they receive more information. Factors that affect whether an area is covered in the program, or should receive heightened priority, include: the likelihood of lead service line presence, number of properties in an area that are known to have lead service lines, the presence of known significant health impacts in an area, and whether there are high-risk populations residing in a location.
It’s important to understand that Denver Water’s service area includes more than just the city and county of Denver. Several suburbs surrounding the city are also served by Denver Water, including:
- Littleton
- Lakewood
- Centennial
- Commerce City
- Parts of Aurora
This is not a comprehensive list. You can check your specific area and home by visiting the Denver Water website.
Is Your Home Covered in the Denver Water Program?
The Denver Water website has an interactive map that allows you to search for your address and find out if it’s within the replacement program coverage area. You’ll be able to see if your home is currently included in the program, if it’s been confirmed not to have a lead service line, or if it’s classified as “unknown.” Click on the map below.
Proven Filters That Remove Lead From Water
Regardless of whether you reside in the Denver Water service area or elsewhere, a trend that our team is seeing are concerned, proactive homeowners taking steps to further safeguard their home’s water supply against lead and other potentially harmful substances. Especially when children, the elderly, and those with compromised health conditions are among a home’s residents, many homeowners are justifying adding an additional level of protection.
Let’s take a quick look at what water treatment products our water quality team at Save Home Heat currently recommends for filtering out lead:
- Highly effective whole-home filtration: The PIONEER Pb whole-house water filter, from Enpress, is highly effective at removing lead (99.62% lead removal) and other contaminants, including PFAS, chlorine and chloramine, and cyst parasites. This is our top-of-the line whole-home water filter
- Effective point-of-use filters: There are cases where a point-of-use water filter is the preferred solution for filtering lead from a home’s water. Our line of proven point-of-use filters includes highly effective reverse osmosis (RO) filters, as well as single- and dual-stage filters that are custom-designed by our staff Master Water Specialist, using high quality industry standard filter elements
Choosing the right water filter solution depends on the circumstances. For example, a point-of-use solution may be better if you’re not the owner of your home, or you’re in a relatively short-term living situation. A whole-house product, such as the PIONEER Pb, is often a better call for homeowners that don’t have plans to relocate in the near future, and/or who desire high quality, umbrella coverage for their entire home. Our team at Save Home Heat routinely advises homeowners on options that make sense to consider for their specific needs.
Our Master Water Specialist & Master Plumbers Expertly Serving Your Needs
The homeowners that we serve appreciate the expertise that our team at Save Home Heat Company brings to the table. In the greater Denver Metro area, we are the only residential plumbing contractor serving existing homeowners whose water quality team is led by a Water Quality Association certified Master Water Specialist, and who also has numerous licensed Master Plumbers on staff – ensuring that our customers receive top level professional advice and installation.
Your First Step: Water Testing
If you’re located in the Denver Metro, Boulder, or Loveland areas, our water quality team offers complimentary, zero pressure, in-home water testing to help homeowners understand what’s in their water and enable them to decide if any action may be warranted. Our reliable, onsite water testing covers up to nine key measurements for common issues such as hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, chlorine, iron, nitrates, and more.
While testing for lead in water can’t be performed onsite, homes included in the Denver Water Program may qualify for a free, lab-based lead test kit. For those who reside outside of the program area that have concerns about lead in your water, our team at Save Home Heat partners with state-accredited laboratories that can accurately test for lead and other heavy metals, unhealthy bacteria, organic materials, and much more. All water testing performed or coordinated by our team is carried out in a highly transparent, professional manner. Our team can also assist with water testing requirements for needs such as real estate transactions.
Your Denver, Boulder, and Loveland Area Water Quality Experts
Talking about potential lead exposure in drinking water can be a bit scary, especially if the subject hits close to home. For expert home water quality advice, testing, and installation, please reach out to our team at Save Home Heat today. If a water treatment solution makes sense for you to consider, all installation quotes provided by our friendly team are free and highly informative, with no sales hype or pressure.
In the Boulder/Denver and Loveland areas, please keep Save Home Heat Company for all your home plumbing needs!
Please contact me to schedule a heating & cooling upgrade quote!
