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About 26,000 homes in St. Paul have lead pipes bringing in water from the main, and city officials are stepping up efforts to replace them.

They’re using $200 million from the federal infrastructure law to eliminate lead service lines over the next 10 years. 

“This is not complicated,” said Mayor Melvin Carter on Tuesday. “We don't want people to have lead poisoning.”

 to replace the portion of lead service lines that are owned by the water utility — from the water main to the sidewalk, in many cases. The rest has usually been the responsibility of the property owner.

The latest round of federal money will pay the entire cost of removing lead pipes, rather than requiring homeowners to spend between $6,000 and $8,000 for the portion of pipe that is on their property, Carter said. 

“It's just not good enough for children to grow up drinking lead in their water because their parents couldn't afford clean water," Carter said.

The city has already completed work on about 70 homes this year. Next year it hopes to do 1,500.

Lead is a poisonous metal that can cause long-term health and behavioral problems, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. It is especially dangerous for children’s developing brains. It was commonly used in plumbing many years ago before being replaced by other materials such as copper.

Mark Zdechlik

Author

St. Paul is using money from the federal infrastructure law to replace lead water lines at no cost to homeowners. 

A large crane-like machine sits on a road.

St. Paul expands efforts to replace lead water lines

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