Locating “lead-lined” iron pipes in drinking water distribution systems

Options for Detecting Lead-Lined Galvanized Steel

Water agencies have several options to detect lead-lined galvanized steel. These options include:

1. Searching for Service Line Materials in Historical Records

Water systems can use historical records, such as city documents, national waterworks surveys, and insurance surveys, to determine their historical use of lead-lined (LL) pipes. Online resources and libraries can provide valuable information.

2. Online Public Documents

Online repositories like HathiTrust or Google Books contain early public documents that may include state-wide surveys or reports from municipalities about their water system, including service line material information. State libraries and university libraries can also provide relevant documents.

3. City Boards of Water Commissioners

Internal city documents, particularly reports from a city’s water department, board of water commissioners, or public utilities division, may be available in online repositories. These documents often contain detailed service line material information.

4. National Surveys

The Manual of American Water Works (MAWW) project conducted by M.N. Baker between 1888 and 1897 collected information from individual water works about their system’s history and composition.

5. Insurance Year Books

The Spectator Insurance Year Book: Fire and Marine Edition is a national resource that can help identify LL pipe usage in larger municipalities. This yearly compilation started including water system information around 1900.

6. Journals of the AWWA and State Chapters

Journals of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) at both the national and state/regional chapter levels may provide insight. Utilities may have published their findings from tests of different service line materials in these journals.

7. Trade Journals

Trade journals like the Municipal Journal and Public Works, The Engineering Record, Engineering News, American Contract Journals, and Fire and Water may contain relevant information, although it may be limited. Contract journals can help narrow down the date range for searches in other documents.

Use of Field Detection Methods

There are methods to detect lead lining without cutting a pipe open, ranging from direct visual inspection to remote sensing. Direct visual inspection involves looking inside a pipe with a non-lead exterior. Other options include devices that use electrical resistance or conductance to determine the pipe material. However, further testing is needed to confirm the accuracy of these probes in classifying LL pipe and their impact on water quality. Remote metal detectors are being piloted to detect the presence and type of metal from the soil surface without digging. Handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) devices have also been used to identify LL pipes by detecting the presence and concentration of metals and other elements.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article discusses the issue of lead-lined galvanized steel pipes in water systems, which directly relates to the goal of ensuring clean water and sanitation for all.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article mentions the use of historical records and city documents to determine the service line material in water systems. This connects to the goal of sustainable cities and communities by promoting effective urban planning and management.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

The article highlights the importance of detecting lead-lined galvanized steel pipes in water systems to ensure safe drinking water for all.

Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

The article discusses the need to identify lead-lined pipes to prevent the release of lead into the water, thereby improving water quality.

Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries

The article suggests using historical records and city documents to determine service line materials, which promotes sustainable urban planning and management.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

The detection and replacement of lead-lined galvanized steel pipes would contribute to ensuring the population has access to safely managed drinking water services.

Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality

Identifying and addressing lead-lined pipes would help improve water quality and contribute to achieving good ambient water quality.

Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the use of historical records and city documents for urban planning can indirectly contribute to measuring the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

Overall, the article provides insights into the detection and identification of lead-lined galvanized steel pipes in water systems, which aligns with SDG 6 and SDG 11. The targets and indicators mentioned above can be used to measure progress towards ensuring safe drinking water, improving water quality, and promoting sustainable urbanization.

Source: waterworld.com