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MEDFORD WATER COMMISSION More digging expected to yield lead pipes in Medford Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 25, 2016 at 5:34 PM Updated Aug 25, 2016 at 5:37 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 25, 2016 at 5:34 PM Updated Aug 25, 2016 at 5:37 PM » Social News The Medford Water Commission will be digging up streets near 264 water meters through the end of the year to see whether there are any lead pipes underground. So far, 47 have been inspected and 13 were found to have lead connectors known as pigtails, Larry Rains, manager of the Water Commission, told the City Council Thursday. "We hope to get it all done by year's end," he said. Water Commission crews have inspected 4,760 water meters surrounding the downtown area of Medford looking for telltale signs that a pigtail might be located underground. Based on the inspections, 264 meters had galvanized pipes attached on the street side — an indication that a pigtail might be located underground, Rains said. Crews have dug a test hole at 47 of those locations to determine whether there is, in fact, a pigtail, Rains said. Each test hole costs the Water Commission about $1,000. If the street has to be dug up to remove a pigtail, it can cost another $5,000. So far, Rains estimated the commission has spent about $75,000 looking for pigtails. Another $250,000 is being spent on a corrosion study to determine how the water is affecting pipes in the Medford system, Rains said. The Water Commission has found lead levels that surpass the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion in several tests. Since the Water Commission board became aware of the presence of the lead pigtails, it has offered to conduct water tests at the customer’s tap to determine whether lead levels are higher than action levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Water Commission officials say previous tests on pigtails showed they could raise lead content above the levels set by the EPA. According to the Oregon Health Authority, long-term exposure to drinking water that has greater than 15 parts per billion of lead can delay children’s physical or mental development, decrease IQ in children, cause kidney problems, increase blood pressure and increase the risk of cancer. Even though local water agencies such as the Water Commission might be delivering water that started out lead-free, the Health Authority cautions that water out of a tap can still contain high levels of lead from household pipes or other pipes in the system. Medford's water routinely passes water quality tests required by the EPA. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 25, 2016 at 5:34 PM Updated Aug 25, 2016 at 5:37 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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