Water Service Line Information

To comply with recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pennsylvania Department of the Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations, EAWA is asking all customers to complete an online survey to confirm the type of material used for the water service line pipes in your home. Service line pipes enter your property from the street and connect to your water meter. Often in the past, these details were not available because the pipes are owned and serviced by the property owner. Customer input will be used by EAWA to complete this required inventory of pipe materials that connect to the water distribution system. Your information will assist the community to meet updated federal regulations; determine future system improvements and prioritization; develop timely customer communications; eliminate or reduce the need for in-building inspections by EAWA Staff, and other actions that may be necessary in the future. Customers are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to complete the survey online using a mobile device such as a smartphone, iPhone, iPad or tablet.

Please complete our survey by clicking on the following link, this will take you to an external website but the information is provided to EAWA:

Self-Reporting Water Service Line App (arcgis.com)

 

Should you be unable to perform this task online (you are HIGHLY encouraged to do so), a paper form is available here:

Service Line Survey Form

Please see this video:

 

 

EAWA’s Commitment to Lead Exposure Prevention

Lead is not present in the drinking water supplied to your home or business. EAWA regularly participates in Lead and Copper testing throughout our entire distribution system. State and federal regulations require the 90th percentile lead level to be less than 15 parts per billion, meaning the lead level must not exceed this level in at least 90 percent of the homes sampled. EAWA’s recent result was 0 parts per billion.

Understanding Lead & Your Drinking Water

What is Lead?

Lead is a common metallic element in nature and can be found in air, soil, and water. It is also a powerful toxin that is harmful to human health. Lead was used for centuries in plumbing because of its pliability and resistance to leaks; in fact, lead’s chemical symbol, Pb, is derived from the Latin word for plumbing. In 1986, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, prohibiting the use of pipes, solder, or flux that were not “lead-free” in public water systems or plumbing in facilities providing water for human consumption.

 

Why is lead a health risk?

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have an increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

 

How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead is not present in the water EAWA supplies to the distribution system. However, in some older homes lead may be present in the pipe or fixtures connecting the home to the water system or in the home plumbing. Lead in service lines or plumbing can dissolve or break off into water and end up at the tap.

 

What we do for Corrosion Control

Lead is not present in the water EAWA supplies to the distribution system. Lead can enter the water when pipes or old plumbing systems corrode. To prevent the corrosion of pipes, EAWA adds a corrosion inhibitor (orthophosphate) to our treated water in several locations. Under strict state and federal regulations, EAWA is required to test for copper and lead in its drinking water every three years. Samples for this testing are taken directly from faucets in areas with the oldest water mains and from buildings that may contain lead in their plumbing systems. EAWA’s recent lead sampling result was 0 parts per billion.

 

What can I do to reduce or eliminate lead exposure from my drinking water?

The best way to remove risks of lead in water is to completely replace all sources of lead in your home or business’s plumbing system. But there are also steps you can take right away.

  1. Run the Tap Before Use—Lead levels are likely at their highest when the water has been sitting in the service line or plumbing for several hours. Flush this water from your system by running the cold water for several minutes which allows you to draw fresh water from the water main. Other household/non-potable water usage activities such as: washing clothes, showering, flushing the toilet, and running the dishwasher are also effective methods of flushing the system
  2. Clean Aerators—Aerators are small attachments at the tips of faucets that regulate the flow of water. They can accumulate small particles of lead and other debris in the screens. It’s recommended to repeat this procedure every few weeks to prevent build-up.
  3. Use Cold Water for Drinking and Cooking—Using cold water for cooking and drinking can reduce your exposure to lead in the water. Hot water dissolves lead more quickly, resulting in higher levels of lead, if present, in water.
  4. Filter the Water—Lead is not present in the water EAWA supplies to the distribution system. If you want another preventative measure for the plumbing inside your home, you can purchase an NSF Water Filter that is certified to remove lead from your water. This filter should be used for water that will be used for drinking and cooking.

Who Owns the Service Line?

EAWA owns the drinking water mains in the street. Customers own and are responsible for the service line connecting their home to the water main. Replacing or repairing a service line may require coordination between the property owner and EAWA.

How do I know if my home has a lead service line or lead plumbing?

You can hire a licensed plumber to inspect both your service line and other materials in contact with your drinking water. EAWA can also assist you by providing information and guidance on how to identify a lead service line or lead plumbing in your home.

You may be able to determine, on your own, if your service line is made of lead. Service lines typically enter the home in the basement or crawl space. If the pipe is lead, it will have a dull finish that shines brightly when scratched with a key or coin. Using a magnet can also help you identify a lead pipe because even a strong magnet will not cling to a lead pipe.

 

Your Drinking Water Service Line:

EAWA is seeking your help to identify the material of the water service line coming into your home. Accurate information about the location and condition of service lines allows us to plan and execute maintenance and replacement projects more efficiently.

Complete our Customer Survey here  to identify and catalog your service line material. To determine whether your home has a lead service line or lead plumbing, you can hire a licensed plumber to inspect both your service line and other materials in contact with your drinking water.

Please call our Customer Service Center with any questions or concerns at 717-367-7448 or email eawa@etown-water.com .

HOW DO I FIND MY SERVICE LINE???

The water service typically enters the building in the basement, a crawl space, or somewhere on the first floor. It may be in a separate enclosed space such as a closet or under a staircase. EXAMINE YOUR PIPE WHERE IT ENTERS THE HOME BEFORE THE METER AS SHOWN BELOW.

 

WATER SERVICE LINE PIPE EXAMPLES

Lead Pipe

If the pipe is silvery gray and: 1) is easily scratched, 2) the metal seems soft, and 3) a magnet does not stick to it, you likely have a lead pipe and plumbing.

If you have a lead service line, it should be replaced. Please get in touch with us first to ensure additional inspection is completed and verified. Until then, you should consider water filters for drinking and cooking, especially if high-risk individuals live in the home.

Galvanized Steel

A galvanized steel water pipe is a gray metal color and, when tapped with a screwdriver, makes a metallic sound.

If the pipe is silvery gray, and hard to scratch, place your magnet on it. If the magnet sticks, your pipe is galvanized steel or galvanized iron.

Galvanized pipes may be sources of lead exposure due to upstream corrosion. If you have a galvanized pipe, it indicates an older installation, and you should have your water tested.

Copper Pipe

Copper is the same color as a new penny when first installed, then gradually transitions to the dark brown of an old one after a few years. If, when scratched, the pipe is orange and shiny like a penny, your pipe is made of copper. A magnet will not stick to it.

Though your service line pipe isn’t a source of lead, it could have lead in soldered joints. You may still want to test your water, especially if it’s an older system.

Plastic or PVC

Plastic pipes are found in a variety of materials and colors. They won’t produce a ringing sound when tapped with a coin, like the metal pipes.

If your line is plastic, it’s a more recent installation, and will also be free of lead solder. Your home’s internal plumbing is also at low risk for lead.

 

Additional Information

Additional information regarding service lines, identifying materials and information regarding lead is available here:

LSLR Collaborative

 

Water Quality Reports

Following its mandated Lead and Copper Rule sampling plan, EAWA tests several residential homes throughout its service area. State and federal regulations require the 90th percentile lead level to be less than 15 parts per billion. EAWA’s result can be found here in the annual Water Quality Report.

Water Quality Reports