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The Kingston Water Department has issued federally-mandated notifications to homeowners whose privately-owned water service lines may contain lead. The notifications were sent to 2,711 households, while an additional 2,056 households received letters due to unknown service line composition. The move is in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead & Copper Rule Improvements, which mandates the replacement of all lead lines within the next decade.
Kingston Mayor Steve Noble reassured residents that precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of their drinking water. "We know that these letters can be alarming, and we want to reassure residents that precautions can be taken to keep your family’s drinking water safe, like flushing your water in the morning before drinking,” said Mayor Noble. He further clarified that the city-owned water distribution lines do not contain lead and that lead does not leach into the water unless it has been sitting for a long period, such as overnight.
The city is hopeful that state and federal funds will be available to assist homeowners with the cost of replacing lead service lines. A service line is the pipe that connects the water main to the building inlet, and in Kingston, the property owner owns the entire length of a service line. When any section of the service line is made of lead, it is deemed a lead service line.
Residents who received an 'unknown' letter and have records of their service line composition are encouraged to contact the Kingston Water Department and provide documentation to water@kingston-ny.gov. Photos of the service line can also be sent to the same email address, and the department will assist in determining whether the pipe is made of lead. More information and resources can be found on the State Department of Health Department's website at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/.