Prior to 1950, lead was commonly used in the manufacture and installation of water service pipes and some private water service lines are made of lead. If too much lead enters your body, it can pose significant health risks, especially to children. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) estimates there are approximately 3,500 lead service lines still in use in the city of Boston, including many buildings in Back Bay.
The BWSC has created a web site where you can search your property address to see if your building has a lead service line. The data is based on information when automated water meters were installed so it may not be 100% accurate; but it’s a start. Amazingly, almost every block in the Back Bay has one or more buildings with lead water service lines. Click here to search your address to find out if you have a lead service line connected to your building that should be replaced. The BWSC’s map indicates, in yellow, properties within the City of Boston that have private lead service pipes, and the BWSC suggests what actions you should consider if your property has a lead service pipe. Further, if your property is a one-to-three family residential building, you may be eligible to participate in BWSC’s Lead Replacement Incentive Program, which provides a credit of up to $1,000 towards the cost of the lead replacement service and allows homeowners to pay for the replacement over a 24-month period as part of their water and sewer bills, interest free. For more information on the health risks of lead, you can also read BWSC’s Lead in Drinking Water brochure.
