What Connecticut Is Doing
There are a lot of activities happening in Connecticut right now to ensure drinking water systems comply with the U.S. Environmental. This includes the Lead Service Line Inventory—a requirement of LCRR.
Public water systems throughout the state have been conducting an inventory of drinking water system service lines. A service line is a pipe that connects a water main to a home or other building. The goal of this effort is to identify and replace all drinking water service lines made of lead and galvanized steel downstream of lead.
Why is lead a problem? Lead can leach into drinking water from corroded pipes, fixtures, and solder holding pipes together. Lead is an issue because it can cause serious health issues, especially for young children and infants. Expectant parents can also pass lead to a baby during pregnancy.
If you have received a notification from your water supplier about your service line material, please contact your water company for more information to learn how they can replace or identify the material your water line is made from. You can also ask them about testing your water for the presence of lead.
For homeowners looking to identify lead pipes in their homes, the EPA’s Quick Check for Lead provides a step-by-step guide. It also offers tips on actions to reduce lead exposure in drinking water, information on certified laboratories for water testing, and resources to learn more.
Homeowners can also visit the DPH website to find a list of environmental labs that test drinking water for lead.
What is the Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR)?
LCRR is a federal drinking water rule implemented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in December of 2021. This rule revises, updates and improves upon the original Lead and Copper Rule of 1991. The revision requires all community (CWS) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems to prepare and submit a materials inventory of all service lines in the drinking water system, along with notifications.
What is the goal of the Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI)?
The goal of the lead service line inventory (LSLI) is to identify and replace all service lines made of lead and any galvanized steel downstream of lead materials that can leach lead into the drinking water. LCRR requires CWS and NTNC water systems throughout the country to be proactive about mitigating the exposure to the adverse effects of lead in drinking water. All unknown service line materials are assumed to be lead until proven otherwise to prevent any possible lead leaching into the drinking water from the service line. Lead can be found in drinking water due to the wearing away of piping, plumbing fixtures or the solder that connects those pipes.
What are the dangers of lead?
Lead is a naturally occurring element that is found in small amounts in Earth’s crust. It can also be found in drinking water through the wearing away of piping, plumbing fixtures and the solder that connects those pipes. Lead can be harmful to humans and animals, causing high blood pressure or nervous system disorders. Children under the age of 6, including unborn babies, are the most at risk because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults’ bodies, in addition to their brains and nervous systems being more sensitive to lead’s damaging effects. Studies continue to show that even low blood lead levels can negatively impact cognitive abilities, speech and language development, hearing, visual-spatial skills, attention, emotional regulation, and motor skills.
The service line coming into the home could be made from a material that can leach lead into drinking water. It is important for homeowners to assist the water system in identifying service line materials. A representative from the drinking water system may require access to the home or ask that the homeowner inspect the service line in the basement to properly identify the service line material. If the service line has been replaced or worked on in recent years, please inform your water system. If your service line is confirmed as being lead or another material that can leach lead into the water, it will need to be replaced. The cost of the replacement may vary. For more information on replacement of service please, please contact your water system.
What is a service line?
A service line is the section of pipe that runs under the house to supply water. It connects to the water main out in the street and usually enters your house in your basement. Depending on the water system, most service lines have split ownership, meaning the water system owns a portion of the service line, and the homeowner owns a portion. If a lead service line is discovered, it is essential that the entire service line be replaced from the water main to the building, or lead will continue to leach into the drinking water.
What is my water system required to do now?
All CWS and NTNC water systems in Connecticut are required to submit an inventory of the service lines to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) by October 16, 2024. Even if all water lines in the drinking water system are non-lead, your water system still needs to confirm their materials and submit the inventory to DPH. Your water system may require access to the home or information about your service line to properly inventory the portion of the service line that you may own.
For information about sources of lead in drinking water, suggestions for reducing exposure and information about replacing lead service lines, reference the EPA’s Lead In Water infographic.