Brooklyn Center Residents Asked to Inspect Water Pipes For Possible Lead
Brooklyn Center wants its residents to check to see if water comes into their homes through a lead pipe.
These pipes have the potential to corrode, contaminating water, and posing a health risk.
“It can lead to kidney failure. It can lower your oxygen supply in your red blood cells,” said Joe Cardoza, Brooklyn Center Communications Manager.
Cardoza is encouraging residents to have their pipes tested and report their findings in an online survey.
He says the survey is also a requirement from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Brooklyn Center water tower
How to Test Your Water Service Line
First, locate your water service line.
Typically, it is in the basement, either by the water heater, furnace, or laundry machines.
Next, use a magnet, like one from your refrigerator, to test for steel.
“If it’s not magnetic, there is a chance that it is lead,” said Cardoza.
If that is the case, you’ll want to use a tool to scratch the surface.
Residents can use a key or a screwdriver to scratch their water service line to see if its possibly made of lead.
“The main reason you want to scratch, is to really expose that metal, and so if you see a shiny silver color, there’s a possibility that it’s lead and you’ll want to get it checked out,” said Cardoza.
If you suspect the pipe is lead, there’s help.
“The state provides funding to help replace the cost of the service lines and the city will help navigate those next steps with the residents,” says Cardoza.
Get Help Testing Your Water Service Line
A Brooklyn Center city worker is going from home to home to help residents with the survey.
“We do have staff that’s going out knocking on residential doors. They’re in a city vehicle, with a city vest, and they have a city badge,” said Cardoza.
Or residents can call the public works department directly to have them come out to do the survey (763) 585-7100.
Cardoza said the city is on track to have all roughly 8,000 homes in Brooklyn Center tested by the time the survey wraps up in August.
“We’ve had about 473 participants in this survey, and we’ve had zero indication of lead in residential homes in Brooklyn Center,” he said.
