Cookeville Water Examining Lines For Lead

The Cookeville Water Department inspecting the customer side of some two thousand service lines to ensure there is no lead in the pipes.

Water and Sewer Director Barry Turner said the project is part of a federal mandate. Turner said anyone who has recently received a letter from the city about their water line should contact the department to share what their pipe is made of.

“If they have a basement, they can see the water line coming into the basement and they can tell what it is at that location,” Turner said. “Or they may have replaced their service line in the last several years and if it’s been replaced since 1988 it’s for certain that it is not lead. So those are the types of things we’re looking at.”

Turner said the department will have to go to any customers that do not respond and dig out a small area on their property to check the material of the water line. Turner said the work is expected to take a couple years to fully complete but it should not have any impact on water services.

“If there is any lead found, then action would have to be taken,” Turner said. “But like I say we have no records that indicate anyone ever used lead in this area. None of our servicers, even we’ve talked to the ones that’s retired, have ever seen any lead services lines.”

Turner said he did not expect to see lead pipes.

Turner said the city has some sixteen thousand water lines in total but the rest have already been confirmed to be lead-free. Turner said the federal mandate gives the city thirteen years to complete the project but it should not take anywhere near that long.

“Once we get everything identified we’ll be able to quit wasting time doing that type of identification,” Turner said. “Up until that time, it’ll just take whatever time we have to spend.”

Turner said it is important to check for lead because exposure can lead to various mental development issues. Turner said lead services lines have a smaller impact than things like lead paint but they still pose a threat.