Nationwide initiative asks residents to assist in finding where lead pipes may still exist
SPEARFISH, SD – Residents are asked to take a quick survey to identify and record the material of water pipe coming in their home as part of a nationwide initiative. Residents who receive water from the municipal water supply can expect to see information about the survey in this month’s utility bill.
The survey is available at http://www.survey.sdwaterpipes.com/ or by scanning the QR code below.
The survey only takes a few minutes and gives step-by-step instructions to find and test the pipe in question. You’ll need a coin or key to scratch the pipe to see if the scraped area is silver-colored and shiny (lead pipes are a shiny, silver color when scratched); a magnet to see if it sticks to the pipe (magnets don’t stick to lead pipes); and the ability to take a photo of the pipe to upload on the survey.
The initiative, led in South Dakota by the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and public water suppliers, including the City of Spearfish, will allow water providers to document the presence of any lead service pipes in their systems.
“Drinking water is free of lead when it leaves the water treatment plant – however, water can absorb lead if it travels through lead pipes on the way to your faucet,
” the initiative’s website, sdwaterpipes.com, states. “The majority of South Dakota water pipes are free of lead, but we need to find where lead pipes still exist so they can be removed.
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Please note the City of Spearfish routinely tests its drinking water for possible contaminants, including lead, and the public water system water quality results meet state and national standards and receive superior ratings. Annual Drinking Water Reports are completed in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide citizens with information about the water the City of Spearfish provides to its customers, and these reports are available at the City.
“Knowing where the lead pipes are is just as important as knowing where they are not,
” sdwaterpipes.com explains. “Documenting your pipe helps your family, your neighborhood, and your water provider. It is a simple process that only takes a few minutes, but it can have a huge impact on community health and safety.
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A paper copy of the survey is available upon request, and if you need assistance locating the water pipe in question in your home, please contact the Public Works office at 605-642-1333.
Visit https://www.sdwaterpipes.com/ for more information. 
