In many of our communities, the location of lead water service leads is a guessing game. A large portion of our water infrastructure is very old. This includes both the main water distribution lines and the water service piping that leads to individual homes and businesses. While municipalities have made advances in identifying the locations of these hazardous lead pipes, much of the historical information documenting where these services exist is, at best, filed away in obscure locations and, at worst, lost completely.
The City of Grosse Pointe has partnered with AEW in an attempt to piece together this lead service puzzle in their community. Taking 100-year-old data from hand written notecards, AEW is utilizing GIS technology to create a water service location and identification application. Used in conjunction with our GIS Portal, City personnel now have the ability to quickly identify the locations of these lead services both in the office and in the field. Armed with this new tool, the public works department is improving customer service and safety for the residents of Grosse Pointe.