NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Does your building use lead pipes? A new map could help you find out.
An interactive map created by the New York League of Conservation Voters shows where lead-containing pipes are used across New York City.
The league found that about 16% of the city’s water service lines contain lead, and another 15% potentially do. The data is broken down by neighborhood and city lot.
Lead pipes are most concentrated in Queens, where 19% of water service lines contain lead, according to 2023 data from the league. In the Bronx, 18% of water service lines contain lead, compared to Brooklyn’s 12%.
On a neighborhood scale, Jamaica has the highest percentage of lead-containing water service lines, followed by Pelham-Throgs Neck and Southwest Queens.
On some blocks in Ridgewood, nearly all city lots use lead pipes.
All city-delivered water is tested throughout the year and found to be “virtually lead-free,” according to city officials. However, that water can get exposed to lead when it transfers from the city’s water main to private service lines and plumbing.
New Yorkers can get free lead testing kits from the city to check their tap water.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
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