Indiana’s Lead Problem
Lead remains an important public health and environmental issue in Indiana. Although lead exposure can come from several sources, the state identifies older housing and lead-based paint as major concerns. Drinking water is another concern because lead can enter water through pipes, service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. A lead service line is a pipe that connects a building to the public water main. Indiana's Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) explains that the water itself generally does not contain high levels of lead when it leaves the treatment facility. Instead, lead can enter the water when it travels through lead-containing pipes or plumbing.
The age and condition of plumbing can therefore make a significant difference. Lead can dissolve into water, particularly when water is corrosive or has been sitting in pipes for an extended period. The effects of lead exposure are especially concerning for children1. Lead can interfere with children's physical and mental development and can contribute to problems with attention and learning. Indiana emphasizes that no level of lead in the blood has been found to be safe.
Indiana has been working to identify and address lead service lines. Under federal requirements, Indiana water systems were required to create inventories identifying the materials used in their service lines and submit those inventories to IDEM by October 16, 20242. These inventories are intended to help communities locate lead pipes and determine where replacements are needed.
Addressing Indiana's lead problem therefore involves more than simply treating drinking water. Communities must also understand the condition of their infrastructure and identify older pipes and plumbing that could introduce lead into water. Indiana's lead service line inventories, water testing programs, and childhood lead screening efforts are important steps toward reducing exposure.
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