Lead service lines in St Charles, MO
St Charles has a population of about 76,000 served by 18 different water systems. The largest is ST CHARLES PWS, which serves roughly 73,000 residents.
What we know about lead service lines here
Lead service lines are pipes made of lead that connect water mains (the large pipes under streets) to individual homes. They can leach lead into drinking water, especially in homes with older plumbing or when water chemistry isn't properly controlled.
Currently, there is no reported inventory data showing the number of lead service lines in St Charles water systems. This doesn't mean lead service lines don't exist here—it means the data either hasn't been collected yet, is not publicly available, or is still being compiled.
Under federal Safe Drinking Water Act rules, water utilities must identify and report on lead service lines. However, many systems are still in the process of conducting surveys and building complete inventories.
What you can do now
Contact your water utility directly. The largest system serving St Charles is ST CHARLES PWS. Ask them:
- Does my address have a lead service line?
- When will you complete your lead service line inventory?
- What steps are you taking to reduce lead in drinking water?
If you live in a home built before 1986, your risk of having a lead service line is higher (that's when federal rules banned lead in new plumbing). Homes built in the 1950s–1970s are especially common targets for lead pipes in older water systems.
If you're concerned about lead in your tap water
You can have your water tested by a certified lab. Your utility can provide a list. A test costs $20–100 and takes a few weeks for results.
If testing shows elevated lead, flush your tap before drinking (let water run for 30 seconds to several minutes, depending on how long pipes have been still). Use cold water for cooking and drinking—hot water leaches more lead.
For health questions, contact your pediatrician or the CDC's lead hotline.
Next steps for residents
- Contact ST CHARLES PWS or your smaller local utility to ask about lead service line data for your address.
- If your home was built before 1986, consider a water test.
- Ask your utility about their timeline for completing a lead service line inventory.
- Check the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline for additional resources.