The City of Bozeman's source waters contain no lead, so any lead in our drinking water enters primarily due to corrosion of materials containing lead in the distribution system and in household plumbing. Older homes and buildings may still contain solder, pipes, or faucets that contain lead. Also, some pipes made of lead were used in the early 1900's to connect houses and buildings to the water mains (service lines). The City of Bozeman's practice has been to completely remove and replace lead service lines whenever we replace water mains or discover lead service lines in the field. The health and safety of our community members is our first concern and replacing lead service lines is a priority for the City of Bozeman. If you are concerned about lead, we also encourage you to evaluate your in-home plumbing systems and fixtures. Do not hesitate to contact us directly with any questions or concerns. If you would like to find the details of your service line, you can look up your address in the City of Bozeman's service line inventory.

Health effects of lead

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new behavior problems or worsen existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these negative health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney or nervous system problems.

Steps you can take to reduce lead in drinking water

Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water.