Water Commission completes meter box checks, more lead pipes found

Medford, Ore. — An update now to a story NBC5 News first brought you in June, when we learned that old lead pipes were found in Medford’s water system. Tonight, we’ve learned the Medford Water Commission has wrapped up it’s initial investigation of meter boxes that predate 1946, and now, they’re focusing in on some 200 properties that could have a lead pipe.

So far the water commission has located 13 lead pigtails, or about one at every 4 locations potholed. In addition to the 208 locations that will be potholed, there’s another 200 homes that require further investigation.

“We’ve made a note of them to go back and dig a little bit further,” Public Information Coordinator Sara Bristol says, “sometimes they have water in the meter box or mud or something like that that’s obstructing our view.”

The most recent lead pigtails were found at a vacant business on South Central Avenue. The commission says it could take several weeks for crews to get through their list of pothole locations.