Think of it as a reverse treasure hunt. Instead of buried gold, advocates and policymakers in New York want to find lead.

A measure that will soon go before Gov. Kathy Hochul is meant to address the estimated hundreds of thousands of lead service lines in New York bringing water to residences. 

"The most effective way to manage this is to know where these pipes are," said Joshua Klainberg of the New York League of Conservation Voters. 

If made law, public water systems would be required to develop and regularly update an inventory of lead service lines, as well as a summary for each location. State health officials would also be required to publish the information online with an interactive map.

The measure would codify requirements laid down by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and guidance from the state Department of Health to water utilities to develop inventories of lead service lines by October 2024. 

For advocates, the move is a "foundational step" to address lead service lines in often older homes and neighborhoods. The next step is a potentially trickier one: finding ways of replacing them. 

"It's just trying to get that information out there and so we can have that honest conversation of how many lead pipes are out there, where are they located, how much money is going to be required to get them all out and most importantly where is that money coming from," Klainberg said. 

Lead exposure can create an array of health problems, especially for children. Lead service lines have been banned since the 1970s. 

"It's so poisonous that the CDC, the EPA, all experts agree there's no safe level of lead exposure," Klainberg said. "And yet homes across the country have lead service lines delivering drinking water to their homes."

Briana Carbajal of We Act for Environmental Justice says these lines are often found in poorer communities and communities of color.

"We know within the state lead service lines are often found in low-income and community of color neighborhoods," she said. 

Hochul previously announced broader anti-lead efforts, including more funding for removing lead paint. Carbajal says more work is needed. 

"We need lead to be a greater priority for our governor and the state Legislature," Carbajal said.