Residents at about 200 properties in Brookline got notices last week that may be alarming. They state that pipes on their properties may contain lead, and that the residents should take certain precautions.
The notices were sent out after an inventory that the town has been working on for several years. It was required by a new regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency, according to Jay Hersey, the town’s water and sewer director.
That inventory found that about 200 water service lines out of 9,134 in town are made out of unknown materials.
“Based on the EPA regulations, if you don’t know what the material is, it’s classified as an unknown, or a line that could potentially contain lead until proven otherwise,” Hersey said.
However, he said, based on when the town was developed and when the lines were installed, he believes that the unknown lines are likely made of cast iron or some other non-lead material.
To be safe, the town is asking that residents who got the notice fill out a survey to help identify the materials that their pipes are made out of. If residents are unable to determine what materials were used, the town will send an inspector.
In the meantime, one precaution Hersey suggested for residents who live on property where the materials are unknown is to run water for a few minutes in the morning until it runs cold.
“If there are any lead pipes or lead containing materials, that flushes it all out,” Hersey said.
Residents can get in touch with the department by emailing water@brooklinema.gov or by calling 617-730-2170.
For a map of affected properties and for more information about identifying lead pipes, visit the town’s website.