Buffalo Water Department works to find lead in water pipes

The Buffalo Water Department is asking all city residents to participate in testing their water pipes to see if they contain lead.

City leaders say they don’t know whether more than 30,000 lines in the city are lead or not.

“Clean, safe drinking water plays a vital role in our daily lives,” Buffalo Water Board Chairman Oluwole “OJ” McFoy said in a statement. “Last year, Buffalo Water became one of the first utilities in New York State to release an inventory map nearly a year in advance so residents could see for themselves the number of unknown and lead service lines in Buffalo and provide the information needed to help Buffalo Water locate and address them. Residents, whether homeowners or renters, should participate in the line investigation. service line, explore the service line inventory map, and follow EPA recommendations to ensure the continued safety of our drinking water.

The department has published an online survey showing how to test your own lines.

You are then asked to send these results to the city via an online survey.

You can find the survey here.