Sioux Falls to Replace All Lead Water Lines within 20 Years

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Sioux Falls officials say most of the lead water lines in the city have been removed and those that remain will be gone within 20 years.

The Argus Leader reports that there are about 9,000 water lines in the city and less than 1 percent contain lead.

Sioux Falls Environmental Engineer Tim Stefanich says the city uses its purification plant to treat the water and mitigate any health effects that lead exposure can cause.

Lead lines were installed in the city until the mid-1930s when copper service lines became standard. Since then, the lead lines have been replaced each time the city does any sort of asphalt, utility or street reconstruction project.

City Water Engineer Jeff Dunn says about 10 lead lines will be replaced this year.

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