Lead Service Lines in Butte Silverbow, Montana

What is a lead service line?

A lead service line (LSL) is the pipe that connects your home's water meter to the public water main under the street. If your service line is made of lead—a soft, dull-gray metal—it can leach lead into your drinking water, especially if the water is acidic or sits in pipes overnight.

Butte Silverbow Water Department serves about 33,000 people in Butte and surrounding areas. The utility draws water from surface sources. Lead service lines are a concern in many older water systems across the country, and Montana is no exception.

Does Butte Silverbow have lead service lines?

The utility has not yet reported a complete inventory of its service lines to the state. This means we don't have a public count of how many lead, galvanized, or non-lead pipes are in the system. Without that data, you can't know for certain whether your home has a lead service line just by checking this directory.

How do I find out if my home has a lead service line?

Contact Butte Silverbow Water Department directly. They can tell you what material your service line is made of. You can also:

• Look at your water bill or service records — they sometimes note pipe material.
• Check with your city or county records — older properties often have documented service line information.
• Ask a plumber — they can inspect the visible portion of your service line (usually near the meter) and make an educated guess about the rest.

What should I do right now?

If you have a lead service line or don't know, the safest approach is to treat your water as if lead may be present:

• Let water run for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking (to flush out water that sat in pipes).
• Use cold water for drinking and cooking; hot water leaches lead faster.
• Install a filter certified to remove lead (look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53).
• Test your water if you're concerned — contact your health department or a certified lab.

For health questions, especially if you have young children in the home, talk to your pediatrician or contact the CDC's lead information line.

Next steps for residents

• Contact Butte Silverbow Water Department to ask about your service line material.
• If you learn you have a lead service line, ask the utility about replacement programs or funding.
• Consider a certified lead-removing water filter as an interim measure.
• Reach out to your state health department or local health officer if you have health concerns.

```json [ { "q": "Is the water in Butte Silverbow safe to drink?", "a": "Butte Silverbow Water Department tests water for lead and must meet federal safety standards. However, lead service lines in older homes can still leach lead into your tap water. Contact your utility for their latest water quality report, or ask about your home's specific service line material." }, { "q": "How do I know if my house has a lead pipe?", "a": "Call Butte Silverbow Water Department with your address—they have service line records. You can also check old permit or closing documents, or have a plumber inspect the visible portion of your service line near the water meter." }, { "q": "Can I remove lead from my tap water myself?", "a": "Yes. A water filter certified for lead removal (NSF/ANSI 53) can reduce lead at the tap. You can also flush your pipes by running water for 30 seconds before drinking, and always use cold water for drinking and cooking." }, { "q": "What is Butte Silverbow doing about lead service lines?", "a": "The utility has not yet published