KDSN RADIO News
Bill requires disclosure of lead in Iowa’s water service lines
A bill that’s cleared the Iowa House would require anyone selling real estate to let potential buyers know if lead service lines bring water to the home or building.
“The service line includes the pipe from the water main to the water meter and does not include interior plumbing,” Representative Thomas Jeneary of Le Mars explained during House debate.
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule has mandated that utilities replace lead pipes that carry water to a property by 2037, however the rule is being reviewed by the Trump Administration. Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs said Iowa has over 100,000 active lead service lines.
“We all know the deleterious health effects to individuals that are exposed to lead piping — brain damage, kidney damage, and really where it affects the most is kids with brain development,” Turek said. “…Buyers should be aware if they’re being exposed to lead pipes.”
The bill passed the House unanimously a week ago and is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.
The state’s water utilities have asked the legislature to provide $5 million in each of the next 10 years to help cover the cost of replacing lead service lines. Lead was commonly used in construction materials because of its resistance to corrosion, but over 50 years ago, research began to link even low levels of lead with health problems. Lead-based paint was banned in 1978.
