District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority

DC Water and Sewer Authority's (DC Water) mission is to provide quality water to each of its customers. DC Water purchases tap water from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Aqueduct, to distribute throughout the District of Columbia. The water travels through a series of underground pipes and eventually enters private-side plumbing in homes and businesses. In-home plumbing can affect water quality and potentially release lead in drinking water. Residents that have or once had lead service lines connected to in-house galvanized pipes, can potentially have lead released in tap water from these old, corroded pipes. In-home galvanized iron pipes are found to accumulate lead that is released from the lead service lines. Lead release from corroded pipe surfaces can vary from home to home and can continue to occur after full lead pipe replacement.

What can you find in this section?

• Household Plumbing FAQ
  FAQ defining galvanized plumbing, how it can affect water quality, and its ability to release lead in drinking water.
• Identify Galvanized Plumbing
  Information on how to identify various types of in-house plumbing.
• Galvanized Iron Piping and Lead
  A full report focused on identifying and characterizing the relationship between lead and iron released from galvanized household plumbing in a small percentage of District homes.
• Galvanized Plumbing Fact Sheet
  Background information on a study focused on the relationship between lead released from galvanized household plumbing.