Service line questionnaire Service line inventory Service line replacement plan
Lead and copper can enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials, with lead being particularly concerning due to its toxicity, especially for children; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates these contaminants through the “Lead and Copper Rule” which sets action levels for lead and copper in tap water. The action level for lead is set at 15 parts per billion (ppb) and for copper at 1.3 parts per million (ppm). If a certain percentage of samples taken from customer taps exceed these levels, water systems ae required water to take action by monitoring customer taps and implementing corrosion control treatments if necessary;
Key points about lead and copper in drinking water:
• Health concerns:
Lead can damage the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system, with children being especially vulnerable. While copper is less toxic than lead, high levels can cause stomach issues.
• Source of contamination:
Our source hasn’t been found to contain Lead or Copper. Lead and copper primarily enter drinking water through corrosion of plumbing materials like lead service lines, lead solder, and brass fixtures within homes. Since our source water is not corrosive this minimizes the potential for lead and copper to enter your water.
• EPA regulation:
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. At the time “lead free” was defined as solder and flux with no more than 0.2% lead and pipes with no more than 8%. In 1996 Congress further amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring plumbing fittings and fixtures (endpoint devices) to be in compliance with voluntary lead leaching standards. The amendments also prohibited the introduction into commerce of any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free.
What is the Lead and Copper Rule? What are the changes under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991. Under this rule, Weiser tests homes for lead and copper every three years. We most recently tested between June and September of 2022. Those results showed lead was not detected in any samples in Weiser. You can review historical testing results in the annual Water Quality Reports posted on the City’s Website: https://cityofweiser.net/water/water-quality-reports/
A major part of this program is our Lead Service Line Inventory (click here) which details the pipe the City as well as our customers have in the ground. Since we have homes and infrastructure in Weiser that are, in some cases, over a century old we don’t have records of every singe service line in town. In that case the service line is classed as “unknown”. This doesn’t mean it’s lead, it just means we haven’t yet confirmed it isn’t. We will be updating this document accordingly as we continue to work with our citizens.
If your home was built before 1988, and you haven’t done so yet, please take a moment and fill out our water line questionnaire located here:
Citizens Water Service Line Questionnaire
You can either print out the questionnaire and drop it off at city hall, or send us a quick email with your name, address, and what your service line (between the meter and the house) is made of.
This will help us identify whether or not further action is needed at your address which may involve visual inspection or even excavation of your service line.
The Lead and Copper Rule also requires the City to begin a corrosion control program if needed. Our water is non-corrosive by nature, with an annual pH level of above 7 and below 9 which minimizes the potential of lead leaching from household pipes and plumbing.
Flint Michigan
Corrosion was the major cause of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. Officials there decided not to add corrosion control chemicals to the city’s treated water when they changed water sources. As a result, the chemical composition of the new water source allowed lead to leach from pipes. The Flint crisis sparked major revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule.
After several years of review and analysis, the EPA released its Lead and Copper Rule Revisions on October 16, 2021.
Key Lead and Copper Rule Revisions requirements are to:
o Develop a materials inventory of all service lines – public and private (see graphic below)
o Create a lead service line replacement plan based on the inventory results (see our plan document here)
o Update/expand the compliance sampling locations based on new criteria
o Prepare a sampling plan for schools and licensed daycares
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