BWSC Offers Property Owners Credit to Replace Lead Pipes

East Boston Times

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Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) announced that it is doubling to $4,000 the credit for replacing lead pipes through its Lead Replacement Incentive Program. A recent review conducted by the Commission estimates that as many as 4,800 property owners may be eligible for the program. For most customers, this credit will cover the total cost of the lead pipe replacement.

Lead water pipes can significantly increase a person’s exposure to lead, a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health. The water provided by BWSC and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is lead-free when it leaves the reservoirs because distribution pipes are made mostly of iron and steel. However, lead can leach into tap water through home service lines and internal plumbing, especially if water sits for long periods of time before use. People in homes and businesses built before 1950 should run their drinking water for two to three minutes if it has been stagnant for several hours, before drinking or cooking, to flush out any lead that might have leached into the system.