Does Saint Joe have lead pipes?

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In early February, the city of St. Joe issued out over 3,000 letters to citizens that may have galvanized or lead pipes. These people will have the opportunity to send a sample to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to have their pipes tested. These people will not be billed. Instead, the city will pay for anyone who received a letter that wishes to have their pipes tested. 

Potential lead-tainted water in houses can be very detrimental. Lead is a toxin that negatively affects the body. It is more harmful to young children because they can absorb lead 4-5 times better than adults. When lead is in the body, it travels to the brain, liver, kidney, and bones. The lead stores itself in teeth and bones. Lead attacks the brain and can cause comas, convulsions, and even death.

The Flint Water Crisis that began in 2012 when Flint switched from Detroit water to river water. The water eroded the pipes and made lead dissolve into the water. While state health officials in Michigan state that the death toll of lead pipe related deaths is 12, Frontline, a PBS documentary TV show, found that 115 people in Flint died of pneumonia. Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia that was a direct result of the lead pipes in Flint, was contracted by many Flint citizens when they drank unsafe water. So although the number of deaths in Flint, MI is unsure, multiple people lost their lives because of something very preventable. 

Mr. Joseph Haydon, chemistry teacher at SJHS, said this about lead tainting: “It's something to take extremely seriously because there are extremely small levels that are seen to be safe.” 

“It's something to take extremely seriously because there are extremely small levels that are seen to be safe.” 

The incentive for Saint Joseph citizens to get water tested will hopefully prevent any problems related to lead in the future.