How to tell if you have Lead Pipe

Lead Water Pipes – are usually a dull gray colour. You can confirm it’s a lead pipe by gently scratching the surface with a coin or sandpaper. If it’s lead, scratching the pipe will leave a shiny silver metal mark.

Copper Water Pipes - are usually a bronze, bright or dark orange colour and are made of a very hard material. Scratching a copper pipe with a coin or sandpaper will leave a faint bronze coloured mark.

Image Credit: City of Winnipeg

Lead can leach into tap water through below:

High Risk:

Lead Service Lines – Homes built before 1975 (when the plumbing code was revised) are likely to have a lead service line, lead solder and plumbing fixtures. Newer homes built in older neighborhoods may still have the original lead service lines. If the line coming to your main water shut off is greyish silver colour (not copper coloured) it may contain lead.

Medium Risk:

Lead Solder – Homes built between 1975 and 1990 may have lead plumbing fixtures and solder. Flushing the cold-water tap should reduce lead levels.

Lower Risk:

Fixtures, Taps, Valves, Fittings – Homes built after 1990, especially those built before 2014 may have brass fixtures that contain lead. Flushing the cold-water tap should reduce lead levels.