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A screen grab of the city of Akron's interactive map that shows locations of active lead pipe services and non-lead pipe services throughout the city.

(City of Akron)

AKRON, Ohio - The city of Akron on Monday released public records and an interactive map that shows the locations of active lead pipe services and non-lead pipe services throughout the city.

The map was released under a 2016 state law that requires public water systems to identify the locations of any lead piping in service areas and make that information available to the public.

Akron has been proactively replacing lead pipe services (the pipe from the water main in the street to the shutoff valve) with copper piping since the mid-1950s. Currently, about 5 percent of the city's water customers have a lead pipe service.



"Whenever a street or sidewalk is being repaired or other work is being done, we make it a priority to replace any lead pipe services in the area," said John Moore, director of public service, in a release. "On average, we replace 3-5 lead services every week."

Having a lead service pipe does not necessarily mean that water will have elevated lead levels. The city of Akron uses zinc orthophosphate, a corrosion inhibitor, to coat lead pipes and help prevent lead from leaching into water. The city also tests homeowners' water for lead.

Results have shown that the corrosion control measures are working and water exceeds all Environmental Protection Agency requirements. However, the presence of old fixtures or lead pipes that transport water from the pipe service into homes may still cause elevated lead levels.

"Due to the hard work and progressive decision-making of our water department staff over the past several decades, we have a good story to tell in Akron," Mayor Dan Horrigan said in a release. "I am proud to say that only a small percentage of lead services remain in our city, and those that do are fully and carefully treated to prevent any dangerous contamination. We work every day to protect the health and safety of our residents and their families, and we are pleased to continue our long history of providing safe, reliable drinking water to our customers."

To view the interactive map, including lead and non-lead pipe services throughout the city, visit: www.akronohio.gov/water. For questions, refer to the city's letter and frequently asked questions resources, or for specific questions, contact the Mayor's Action Center at 330-375-2311 or 3-1-1.