^Okay, there is that. Old and under-maintained water mains are a real problem.
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So do I, and I make my cold brew with it too. Is it my imagination, or does our legendary water taste not quite as good in the last 30-60 days?symphonicpoet wrote: ↑Jul 08, 2023I drink it out of the tap and always did. Mind you, I'm a weird one and maybe this explains it. But I still think we have the best tap water.
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I got a letter in mail from City of St. Louis Depart of Public Utilities which scared the heck out of me. It reads as below:
"Per revision to the EPA lead and copper rule, the City of St. Louis Water Division is required to notify customers......when it is unknown if they are served by a lead or galvanized service line. Our most recent service line inventory indicates that the above referenced address is possibly served by a lead or galvanized service line. In order to clarify this, please complete the lead service line survey at ........"
Should I be concerned as I have been drinking out of tap water for over a decade?
"Per revision to the EPA lead and copper rule, the City of St. Louis Water Division is required to notify customers......when it is unknown if they are served by a lead or galvanized service line. Our most recent service line inventory indicates that the above referenced address is possibly served by a lead or galvanized service line. In order to clarify this, please complete the lead service line survey at ........"
Should I be concerned as I have been drinking out of tap water for over a decade?
They're trying to find out who has lead water pipes and thus how many and then maybe get Fed funds to replace them. I think the money is in the infrastructure bill or the inflation reduction act.
As for your water service pipe. A lead one would have built up corrosion on the inside insulating the water from the lead. Water utilities make the water not eat into the corrosion. That's what happened in Flint. The state gov took over the city, switched the water source, neglected to put stuff in the water to prevent is from eating the corrosion and that exposed the lead. Then they ignored the warning signs and did a cover up. Really among the worst of elect a business man, run gov't like a business, crony capitalism, cheat, ignore, exploit poor people stories.
As for your water service pipe. A lead one would have built up corrosion on the inside insulating the water from the lead. Water utilities make the water not eat into the corrosion. That's what happened in Flint. The state gov took over the city, switched the water source, neglected to put stuff in the water to prevent is from eating the corrosion and that exposed the lead. Then they ignored the warning signs and did a cover up. Really among the worst of elect a business man, run gov't like a business, crony capitalism, cheat, ignore, exploit poor people stories.
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No. There is a sediment layer in the pipe protecting the water from contamination. lead pipes aren’t dangerous unless that layer is broken and the pipe begins leaching lead into the water.
City probably wants to know because I think they are embarking on a huge program to replace the lead lines that run from the main water line into the houses.
City probably wants to know because I think they are embarking on a huge program to replace the lead lines that run from the main water line into the houses.
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As most of you might be well aware, we received water service line survey asking us to report whether we have galvanized or lead pipe.
Our HOA self-manages a group of condos and when I checked the service line to our building, it was a copper pipe. However, I don't know if there is a lead pipe somewhere upstream (in the underground) that is not visible to naked eye. Is it worth our time to contact Water department to verify if our building is being serviced by a lead pipe? Is it safe to assume that if I see a copper pipe entering our building then there is no underground lead pipe?
Thank you!
Our HOA self-manages a group of condos and when I checked the service line to our building, it was a copper pipe. However, I don't know if there is a lead pipe somewhere upstream (in the underground) that is not visible to naked eye. Is it worth our time to contact Water department to verify if our building is being serviced by a lead pipe? Is it safe to assume that if I see a copper pipe entering our building then there is no underground lead pipe?
Thank you!
I think if the water department knew, you wouldn't have gotten a survey. I'd wager since the pipe is copper coming through the foundation that it's copper all the way to the main. There might be a shutoff out near the street. Maybe you can see the pipe down there?stlurbanist wrote: ↑Mar 19, 2025As most of you might be well aware, we received water service line survey asking us to report whether we have galvanized or lead pipe.
Our HOA self-manages a group of condos and when I checked the service line to our building, it was a copper pipe. However, I don't know if there is a lead pipe somewhere upstream (in the underground) that is not visible to naked eye. Is it worth our time to contact Water department to verify if our building is being serviced by a lead pipe? Is it safe to assume that if I see a copper pipe entering our building then there is no underground lead pipe?
Thank you!
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Yeah, they want to know the service line coming off the main (connects at sidewalk) and into the home/building is copper or lead.
Had my lead one replaced 2 years ago.
Had my lead one replaced 2 years ago.
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This is freaking awesome. Thanks for sharing the calculations!quincunx wrote: ↑Apr 13, 2025NextSTL - Water Meter- Do the Math
https://nextstl.com/2025/04/water-meter-do-the-math/
Slap me if I am asking newbie question but how can I confirm the house I recently purchased has a meter or not? Do I need to look at the bill for the rate they are using to infer that? I always assumed that every house in the city had a meter!quincunx wrote: ↑Apr 13, 2025NextSTL - Water Meter- Do the Math
https://nextstl.com/2025/04/water-meter-do-the-math/
Most houses in the city do not have a meter. If you know where the water supply line come fromt he main to the house, look for a manhole with a meter in it, or it could be where it enters the basement, though it's been a long time since they allowed that. On the bill it'll have charges for rooms, water closets/toilets, baths/showers which means no meter.
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darn it. i wanted to blame the high bills on lack of water meter but apparently ours has a meter!
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haha..how do you pull those numbers? i cannot even get stl city water to give me an estimate on monthly average bill!!dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Sep 18, 2025City is 82% not metered, 18% metered.
Maybe try the Gregory FX Daly Collector of Revenue for bill info if you are trying to get an average citywide bill. That's the office that actually does the billing.
4 - families or smaller are not metered. 5 unit structures or larger are metered. I'm sure there is a spreadsheet somewhere that catalogs all the buildings in the city. If so, it would be pretty easy to back into the number. I would have guessed it was somewhere closer to 90-10 but 80-20 doesnt feal off.MattnSTL wrote: ↑Sep 19, 2025Maybe try the Gregory FX Daly Collector of Revenue for bill info if you are trying to get an average citywide bill. That's the office that actually does the billing.
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Lol apparently St. Chuck had to do some maintenance on their water treatment plant and so bought water from their tie-in with the City to help with the supply. Apparently the taste/smell of the water was slightly different and of course, the official county page on Facebook threw the City under the bus.
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Can someone let me know if having a galvanized service line poses any health concern besides low water pressure over time?
BB161 $6,866,460.48 for water infrastructure replacement and repair
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/c ... BBId=16830
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/c ... BBId=16830