Baltimore leaders stress water is safe amid project to identify lead pipes | Exclusive - WBAL TV Baltimore

Mayor: Water is safe amid project to identify lead pipes

THAT DRINKING WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK RIGHT? LIKE DPW MAYOR SCOTT SAID REPEATEDLY THAT THE DRINKING WATER MEETS THE STATE AND FEDERAL STANDARDS WHEN IT LEAVES THE LOCAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. HE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT EVERY WATER UTILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS WORKING TO CREATE AN INVENTORY OF THEIR WATER PIPES RIGHT NOW. AND THEY’RE ALSO REQUIRED TO HAVE THOSE INVENTORIES COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 2024. MAYOR SCOTT SAID SO FAR THERE ARE NO KNOWN OR CONFIRMED LEAD WATER PIPES IN THE CITY OR COUNTY. AND THEN HE TALKED ABOUT UPCOMING EFFORTS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON BETWEEN NOW AND THE FEDERAL DEADLINE IN OCTOBER OF 2024. OUR TEAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY, IS GOING TO BE CONDUCTING SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC OUTREACH DIRECTLY TO OUR RESIDENTS. EVERYTHING FROM ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA LIKE WE’RE DOING THIS MORNING, JOINING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND HOLDING PUBLIC SESSIONS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. PSA AND EVEN DEMONSTRATIONS ON HOW TO DO YOUR TESTS AT HOME AND EVEN GOING DOOR TO DOOR CANVASING NEIGHBORHOODS. AS DPWH INTERIM DIRECTOR ABOUT WHEN MORE INFORMATION ON THIS LEAD PIPE PROGRAM WILL BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

Baltimore leaders stress water is safe amid project to identify lead pipes | Exclusive

Program seeks property owners to check pipes for lead, report to DPW

Updated: 5:41 PM EST Nov 15, 2023

Top city leaders responded Wednesday for the first time to an exclusive 11 News Investigates report on lead pipes in the Baltimore area.The 11 News Investigates report on Monday revealed the Baltimore City Department of Public Works needs to inspect about 275,000 water pipes for lead across the city and Baltimore County. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the reporting, emphasizing that the water is safe to drink. Akin to what DPW officials told 11 News Investigates, the mayor repeatedly said the drinking water meets state and federal standards when it leaves the local treatment facilities.Scott also wanted to highlight that every water utility across the country is working to create an inventory of water pipes, and they're all required to have those inventories completed by October 2024.The mayor said, so far, there are no known or confirmed lead water pipes in the city or the county, and he addressed upcoming efforts to inform the public about what's going on."Between now and the federal deadline in October 2024, our team, in partnership with Baltimore County, is going to be conducting significant public outreach directly to our residents -- everything from engaging with members of the media, like we're doing this morning, joining community association meetings and holding public sessions to answer your questions, (public service announcements) and even demonstrations on how to do your tests, and even going door to door canvassing neighborhoods," Scott told 11 News Investigates.The 11 News Investigates report included an interview with a DPW official, but the department hadn't issued a press release or more information about the lead pipe program until Wednesday.| VIDEO BELOW: Program seeks help to find lead pipesWBAL-TV 11 News Investigates asked interim DPW Director Richard Luna about the program, as well as when notices will be sent to people who need to check pipes on their property."We're finalizing that press announcement right now with our colleagues and partners in Baltimore County, and we're working with a consultant agency that's helping us with all the robust outreach efforts that the mayor offered and outlined," Luna told 11 News Investigates. "What you'll see over the next course of days and weeks ahead is more communication from our department and agency about the lead and copper provisions, the inventory collection process and instructions from residents about how to collect that information."Just Wednesday afternoon, DPW added new information to its website, including an explanation of what the lead pipe program is, links to the map and a survey showing where the unknown pipes are located, and answers to frequently asked questions.Video below: Hear from DPW's Richard LunaLead water pipes are not inherently dangerous, but if there's corrosion, lead can seep into the water. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially in children and pregnant women. The Environmental Protection Agency states no amount of lead is safe in drinking water.| EPA LINKS: How to check for lead | Basic information on lead in drinking waterThe DPW will be asking private property owners to check their pipes, go to the DPW's online map and complete a self-reporting survey. Previous 11 News Investigates reporting on lead pipes

BALTIMORE —

Top city leaders responded Wednesday for the first time to an exclusive 11 News Investigates report on lead pipes in the Baltimore area.

The 11 News Investigates report on Monday revealed the Baltimore City Department of Public Works needs to inspect about 275,000 water pipes for lead across the city and Baltimore County.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the reporting, emphasizing that the water is safe to drink. Akin to what DPW officials told 11 News Investigates, the mayor repeatedly said the drinking water meets state and federal standards when it leaves the local treatment facilities.

Scott also wanted to highlight that every water utility across the country is working to create an inventory of water pipes, and they're all required to have those inventories completed by October 2024.

The mayor said, so far, there are no known or confirmed lead water pipes in the city or the county, and he addressed upcoming efforts to inform the public about what's going on.

"Between now and the federal deadline in October 2024, our team, in partnership with Baltimore County, is going to be conducting significant public outreach directly to our residents -- everything from engaging with members of the media, like we're doing this morning, joining community association meetings and holding public sessions to answer your questions, (public service announcements) and even demonstrations on how to do your tests, and even going door to door canvassing neighborhoods," Scott told 11 News Investigates.

The 11 News Investigates report included an interview with a DPW official, but the department hadn't issued a press release or more information about the lead pipe program until Wednesday.

| VIDEO BELOW: Program seeks help to find lead pipes

WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates asked interim DPW Director Richard Luna about the program, as well as when notices will be sent to people who need to check pipes on their property.

"We're finalizing that press announcement right now with our colleagues and partners in Baltimore County, and we're working with a consultant agency that's helping us with all the robust outreach efforts that the mayor offered and outlined," Luna told 11 News Investigates. "What you'll see over the next course of days and weeks ahead is more communication from our department and agency about the lead and copper provisions, the inventory collection process and instructions from residents about how to collect that information."

Just Wednesday afternoon, DPW added new information to its website, including an explanation of what the lead pipe program is, links to the map and a survey showing where the unknown pipes are located, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Video below: Hear from DPW's Richard Luna

Lead water pipes are not inherently dangerous, but if there's corrosion, lead can seep into the water. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially in children and pregnant women. The Environmental Protection Agency states no amount of lead is safe in drinking water.

| EPA LINKS: How to check for lead| Basic information on lead in drinking water

The DPW will be asking private property owners to check their pipes, go to the DPW's online map and complete a self-reporting survey.

Baltimore City DPW The gray dots signify pipes not made of lead and the blue dots signify DPW doesn’t know what makes up the pipe material.

Previous 11 News Investigates reporting on lead pipes