Utilities Nationwide Alert Customers to Potential Lead in Water Pipes

Birmingham Water Works is notifying over 71,000 customers about potential lead pipes in their homes, as required by new EPA rules. The letters target homes built before 1989, advising residents to check for lead risks. The utility offers free water filter pitchers if lead is detected and encourages in-home testing. Lead exposure is particularly harmful to children and pregnant women. The initiative is part of a broader plan to replace lead service lines, following a 2019 consent order with Alabama's environmental department.