Reducing Exposure

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History of Lead in Our Potable Distribution System

Lead, a naturally occurring, soft, and malleable metal, has been widely used in plumbing systems due to its workability. However, the health risks associated with lead exposure, particularly in drinking water, were not fully understood until recent decades. Today, lead is recognized as a significant health hazard to all age groups, leading to stringent regulations like the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).

Since the inception of Cheyenne’s water system in 1877, lead pipe components were commonly used for service connections, particularly between the water main and curb stop, with galvanized pipes often extending to homes and businesses. By the 1930s, copper began to replace lead and galvanized pipes in new installations. The use of lead components decreased significantly between the 1960s and 1985. Service lines installed after 1960 show a decreasing likelihood of containing lead components as the installation date moves closer to 1986. The use of lead components was officially banned in 1986 by the U.S. EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Other sources of lead in drinking water include:

• Copper pipes connected with solder made of lead, common before 1987. Solder can be used anywhere in the house, from fixtures to service lines.
• Brass faucets and faucet parts, like fittings and valves. Fixtures installed before 2014 are likely to contain some brass, even if they have a chrome finish.

In 1991, the EPA's LCR mandated that water suppliers monitor lead levels in drinking water and implement corrosion control measures if lead concentrations exceed 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Following this, BOPU adjusted Cheyenne's water treatment process by blending 75% surface water with 25% groundwater to control corrosion and prevent lead from leaching from service lines, fixtures, or faucets.

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water

Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials containing lead corrode, particularly in water with high acidity or low mineral content. The primary sources of lead in drinking water include lead pipes, faucets, fixtures, and especially lead service lines, which connect homes or consumers to the water main and are often the most significant source of contamination. Lead pipes are more common in older cities and homes built before 1986. In homes without lead service lines, lead contamination typically originates from brass or chrome-plated faucets and plumbing that contains lead solder.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has significantly reduced the allowable lead content in plumbing, now defining "lead-free" as a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead across the wetted surfaces of pipes and fixtures, and 0.2 percent for solder and flux. Corrosion, the process by which metal is dissolved or worn away due to a chemical reaction between water and plumbing, is a critical factor in lead contamination. Several factors influence the extent of corrosion, including water chemistry (acidity and alkalinity), lead exposure, water temperature, pipe wear, water residence time in pipes, and the presence of protective coatings inside plumbing materials. 

To combat lead and copper contamination, the EPA established the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) under the SDWA, requiring utilities to implement corrosion control treatments to make water less corrosive. These treatments are essential in preventing lead and copper from leaching into drinking water as it travels to consumers' taps.

BOPU has protected its customers by adjusting the pH of the water we deliver to help prevent lead from leaching from service lines, fixtures, or faucets. Recent water testing from areas with known lead service lines have shown that this treatment has resulted in lead levels below EPA’s action level of 0.015 mg/L at 9 out of 10 of the sites tested, meeting the overall standard for lead in drinking water set by EPA, however there is no safe level of lead.

As Cheyenne continues to modernize its water infrastructure, the BOPU remains committed to safeguarding public health by strictly adhering to EPA regulations and proactively addressing lead-related risks. Through continuous monitoring and public education, the BOPU ensures that Cheyenne's water system meets the highest water quality standards, reflecting a long-term commitment to providing clean, safe water for all customers.

Reducing Exposure

Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water.

• Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, visit the EPA’s consumer tool.
• Clean your aerator. Regularly remove and clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
• Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.
• Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes providing water to your home, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home.
• Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line or galvanized service line if present. Contact us to find out about any construction or maintenance work that may disturb your service line.
• Have your water tested. Contact us, your water utility, to have your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water. Alternatively, you may contact a certified laboratory to have your water tested for lead. A list of certified laboratories is available at https://www.epa.gov/region8-waterops/certified-drinking-water-laboratories-systems-wyoming-and-tribal-lands-epa-region. Note, a water sample may not adequately capture or represent all sources of lead that may be present. For information on sources of lead that include service lines and interior plumbing, please visit the EPA's general information about lead in drinking water.
• Maintain Water Softening Systems: If you have a water softener, ensure it is properly maintained, as softened water can increase the likelihood of lead leaching from pipes.
• Learn about when your home was constructed.  Use the Lead Service Line Inventory Map to discover when your home was constructed. Validate the provided date with the Laramie County Assessor Office and the City of Cheyenne Building Department.
• Review recent water quality analysis and sampling results. View BOPU water quality and sampling results.