The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented the Lead and Copper Rule Revision in December of 2021. Public water systems are now required to complete a SERVICE LINE INVENTORY. A service line is defined as the portion of a pipe, which connects the water main to the building inlet. Every single service connection must be included and materials must be identified for both the water system owned side of the service line and the private side. Inventories are required to be completed and submitted to the regulatory agency (DEQ or Health District) on or before October 16, 2024.
Inventory development may require property access or requests for information. If water systems cannot identify the materials, they may eventually be required to dig them up to determine the materials, so customer participation in surveys or information requests can help keep costs down. If a service line contains lead, it will eventually require replacement with non-lead materials. Once complete, the inventory will be publicly available.
This survey plays a vital role in helping your public water system fulfill this obligation effectively. The following information will help you determine where your water service line is and what material the line is made of.
Find Your Water Service Line
Before completing the survey, you need to determine where the water service line is and how it connects to your home. If you need assistance finding your service line, contact 208-790-7353.
Outside Meter or Curb Stop
To locate where the water service line enters your home, look for a water meter and curb stop valve. These are usually found at the front of your property near the street or sidewalk and are ground-level boxes labeled “water” or “meter.” Once you find them, follow the shortest path to your home. The water service line should enter the building through the floor or foundation wall in this general area.
Test the Pipe Material
Once you’ve found where the water service line enters your home, look for a spot on the pipe closest to the wall or floor before it connects to a valve or meter. At this spot, you can test the material the pipe is made of.
Testing Tools
Use the following tools to determine the type of pipe material the water service line is made of.
- Refrigerator magnet—use to test if the pipe is made of steel.
- Coin or key—use to scratch the pipe to reveal the metal’s color and hardness.
- Flashlight or mobile phone—light to clearly see the pipe.
- Plastic—This pipe comes in different materials and colors. If you tap it with a coin, the pipe does not make a ringing sound.
- Copper—Scratch the pipe and it appears orange and shiny like a penny, which means the pipe is made of copper. Additionally, a magnet will not stick to it.
- Galvanized Steel or Iron—The pipe appears silvery gray and is difficult to scratch and a magnet sticks on it. The pipe is made of galvanized steel or galvanized iron.
- Lead—The pipe is silvery gray and (1) is easily scratched, (2) the metal seems soft, and (3) a magnet does not stick to it—likely lead pipe.