KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas City Water is asking residents to help identify potential lead pipes that carry drinking water into their homes as part of a federal mandate.
The utility identified 27,000 water lines last year made of unknown materials, following an EPA directive to locate lead pipes associated with drinking water systems. That was out of nearly 160,000 they identified as being lead-free.
KC Water sent letters to affected residents with a self-reporting tool and instructions to help accelerate what could be a 10-year process to identify the remaining pipes.
How the identification process works
To determine pipe material, city crews need to examine two sections: one outside the home and one inside. The new self-reporting tool shows homeowners how to photograph the interior portion and submit images to the city, leaving crews to inspect only the exterior section…