Morgan City asks residents to help ensure water system is lead-free

Morgan City is encouraging all residents to participate in a Utah Division of Drinking Water lead reduction program to ensure there are no lead pipes in its water system by completing a short survey to determine where there might be lead pipes.

“It’s a new rule update that the state is putting on all the systems to make sure there’s no lead or copper getting into the system, or in people's homes,” Water/Wastewater Senior Operator Kale Watkins said. “The state is basically just making a blanket rule to go over all the systems.”

Completing the survey helps the city to provide an accurate inventory of its water system, something that is also a new state requirement, Watkins said.

To his knowledge, Morgan City does not have any lead piping in its system and the city’s previous water operator indicated to him that he had never seen any lead pipes in Morgan, Watkins said.

This seems to be partially because city leaders have been frugal in the past, Watkins said. “I was glad the city's always been frugal because to buy those lead connections and pipes they were more expensive, and I think the city was always very frugal and bought galvanized pipe instead. And it's helped us out in this situation.”

He would really like to know if there are still any lead pipes or connections in the city, he said. These are more common in homes or buildings constructed prior to 1970.  When Watkins worked for Farmington City prior to coming to Morgan, “I used to see them there every once in a while,” he said.

Lead can enter drinking water when pipes and plumbing fixtures that contain lead corrode. Exposure to large amounts of lead has been proven to be highly toxic, particularly to young children and infants. Lead exposure can cause anemia, weakness, nervous system damage, kidney and brain damage and even death at very high levels. 

The Division of Drinking Water is asking property owners to find their water pipeline where it enters their home or building and, using a penny or a fridge magnet, determine if it is lead, copper, galvanized steel or PVC. (The city will complete a similar inspection at the meter box, Watkins said). 

Property owners should then fill out a brief survey indicating the material the line is composed of, along with the installation date of the line. If the person completing the survey doesn’t know that information, they should provide the year the home or building was constructed. Photos, which can be uploaded directly, are encouraged.

The test and survey are available on the city website or at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/ccca4c82a2f14ca3b0a87c01a1a1ee4c

Those who want to participate may email the information and photos to [email protected] if they prefer.

Watkins and his crew are happy to come out and help any homeowners unable to do this test survey themselves, he said. Just give him a call at 801-516-8112.λ