by Chuck Hoven

   (Plain Press August 2025) An article in the July Plain Press titled “History shows that nutrition education should play a greater role in efforts to prevent lead poisoning” addressed the importance of diet in helping prevent severe lead poisoning of Cleveland’s children. A reader responding to the article asked that the Plain Press also look at the lead service lines that deliver water to Cleveland households.

   In the February 22, 2024, issue of Water, Finance and Management an article by Andrew Farr titled “Inside Cleveland Water’s Ambitious Lead Service Line Replacement Program” outlines the massive number of lead service lines in Cleveland, points out measures Cleveland Water takes to assure safe drinking water and examines the Cleveland Department of Water’s efforts to replace the lead service lines.

   According to the article, Cleveland Water, which serves Cleveland and surrounding communities, “has about 5,375 miles of water main and about 440,000 total active service connections. Cleveland Water last used lead in its system in 1953, so any service connections installed prior to 1954 could contain it. Cleveland Water estimates it has about 178,000 possible lead service connections, with 142,000 of those having city-owned lead, more than 10,000 with customer-owned lead and about 4,000 with downstream galvanized steel requiring replacement.”

   The article by Andrew Farr says “Although these numbers rank Cleveland among the highest concentration of lead service lines in the nation, Cleveland Water has a favorable record of delivering safe drinking water. The department uses orthophosphate in the treatment process as a corrosion control measure for mains and service lines. It also controls pH levels to help maintain the orthophosphate, contributing to effective corrosion control. As a result, lead levels detected in Cleveland’s drinking water have been below the federal requirement of 15 parts per billion (ppb) since that requirement was introduced in 1997, and consistently below 5 ppb since 2009 (note EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements released in November 2023 would reduce the federal threshold to 10 ppb).”

   Andrew Farr’s article says, “Even with its success in controlling lead levels, Cleveland Water has launched an ambitious lead service line replacement (LSLR) program managed entirely in-house.” Farr’s article quotes longtime Cleveland Water Commissioner Alex Margevicius as saying, “We’ve always maintained that our water is safe, yet nevertheless, the sentiment nationwide is that it’s time for the lead to go.”

   Farr describes how Cleveland Water prioritizes replacement of lead service lines and uses local, state, and federal dollars to tackle the line replacement. The effort included using state and federal dollars to replace lead service lines in over 450 licensed day care operations.

   The Cleveland Water Department says “Ownership of the service connection changes at the curb stop water shutoff, which is typically in the tree lawn. Cleveland Water is responsible for the portion from the water main to the curb stop. The property owner owns the connection from the curb stop into the building. The material for the two parts of the pipe can be the same or different.”

   Cleveland Water has in house publications that address the issue of lead service lines.

   A pamphlet titled Cleveland Water: Service Line Material Awareness shares information with Cleveland Water customers as to what they can do at home to check for lead in their plumbing and to keep the water they use healthy.

   In the pamphlet Cleveland Water describes a penny and magnet test that customers can use to determine the material their water pipes are made of and asks customers to report their findings to Cleveland Water for documentation at clevelandwater.com/line.

   The pamphlet says a magnet will not stick to a lead pipe. If you then scratch the pipe with the penny and “the scratched area is shiny silver and flakes off, the service line is lead.”

   The pamphlet notes that a magnet also will not stick to a copper pipe. If when you scratch the pipe with a penny and “the scratched area is copper in color, like a penny, your service line is copper.”

   If the magnet sticks to the surface of the pipe, the pamphlet says the pipe is made of galvanized steel.

   In the pamphlet, Cleveland Water also advises how to “Keep your home’s water healthy.” The pamphlet says “Clean, Flush, and Consume Cold are the actions customers should take to ensure the highest quality of water is coming out of your tap, especially if there is the possibility of lead in your plumbing.”

   The recommendation about cleaning is to “Clean your faucet aerators regularly. Small particles of solder and other materials can accumulate in faucet aerators and, in come circumstances, release lead into the water. Aerators should be cleaned at least twice a year and more frequently after work is done to your plumbing system.”

   An online video titled “How to clean a faucet aerator with vinegar essence DIY” recommends removing the aerator from the end of the faucet and placing it in a cup with vinegar to soak 6-10 hours or overnight. The soak in vinegar cleans the aerator and it can then be screwed back onto the faucet.

   Cleveland Water recommends that water customers only consume cold water. Their advice is “Always use cold water for cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula. Hot water corrodes pipes faster and is more likely to contain lead. If you need hot water for food or drinks, get water from the cold-water tap, then heat the water.”

   Cleveland Water’s recommendation about flushing is “Flush your cold-water lines before consuming water when water has not been used for 6 or more hours. The goal is to have cold, fresh water from the main in the street come out of your tap before drinking the water. To flush the plumbing, run water until you feel a temperature change, then run water for an additional 30 seconds to 3 minutes. The time depends on the length and diameter of your service line. The farther your home is from the street, the longer you need to flush. When in doubt, flush it out.”

   The pamphlet offers some resources to water customers. It says, “For additional information about lead, visit drinktap.org or epa.gov/safewater/lead or call the National Lead Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.” Additional information can be obtained from Cleveland Water at clevelandwater.com/lead or by calling 216-664-2882.