Birmingham Water Works notifying customers of potential lead pipes [Video]

Next week, over 70,000 homeowners will receive letters from Birmingham Water Works letting them know they may have lead pipes in their homes.The letters are primarily going to homes built before 1989. They’re sending the letters because of new federal guidelines.”We’re required by the EPA to build a database to find out who has lead piping and who doesn’t,” interim general manager Darryl Jones said.Just because you receive a letter doesn’t mean you have lead pipes. Some homeowners may have replaced their pipes since the home was built.Even if your pipes are lead, you’re not in any immediate danger.”There’s no immediate concern,” Jones said. “We’re doing it because we’re required to do it.”Jones said the water works board has already taken steps to ensure everyone’s drinking water is safe.”We treat our water in a way that we make sure there’s a protective coating on the pipe, so just because you …