Officials say the city of Lead is losing nearly four million gallons of water every month. Old pipes and other aging infrastructure could be the cause of the leak, but officials say they’re not sure.
City Utility Supervisor Roger Thomas says state officials brought the water leak to his attention during the reconstruction of Lead’s Main street over the summer.
Thomas says crews are still searching for the cause.
“The lines and the infrastructure are extremely old. Most of these lines in the residential areas are 1912, 1910 – they’re going to leak. There’s just no way around it. We don’t have the money to fix everything but if I can find them then I can monitor them and fix them when I can,” says Thomas.
Thomas says it is normal for some towns with aging infrastructure to naturally lose 25 to 30 percent of their water – but he says state reports indicate Lead is currently losing up to 60-percent.
Thomas says residents in Lead and Deadwood are encouraged to contact city water officials if they hear their water pipes hissing during the night or see other evidence of water leaks like bubbling or pooling water.
