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Lead Service Line Inventory

water service

November 2024 - Lead Service Line Update

The Town of Lee is committed to providing its customers with a safe and reliable source of drinking water and regularly conducts sampling for lead in accordance with state and federal requirements. Information regarding lead in drinking water is provided in the Town’s Annual Water Quality Report.

Water systems are now required to document all water service line materials and identify any lead or lead containing materials.  The Water Service Line Inventory was submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on October 11th, 2024. The inventory is available for review at the DPW Office (Town Hall, 2nd floor) or at the following link: Water Service Line Inventory

A link to the Lead Service Line Replacement Plan is here: LSL Replacement Plan 

You've gotten a Drinking Water Notice, here is what to do next:

Schedule a basement inspection! APPOINTMENT LINK

SURVEY LINK - You can upload photos of your service line here

STEPS TO LOCATE SERVICE LINES GUIDE - a guide to find your service line

VIDEO TUTORIAL (how to locate and identify service lines)

Additional steps you can take at home:

  1. Have your water tested by a certified laboratory, particularly if your home was built before January 1986. Find a Certified Lab for Water Testing
  2. If your tap water tests positive for lead, steps you can take right now include:

 

  1. Filter the Water – Filters can reduce lead in drinking water. Make sure it is certified by NSF to remove lead- it will say so on the package. Follow directions to properly install, use, and replace your filter. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information, and which certifications to look for, visit EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/water-research/consumer-tool-identifying-point-use-and-pitcher-filters-certified-reduce-lead. Find out more on filter certification at www.nsf.org.

 

  1. Run the Tap Before Use – Lead levels increase over time as water sits in lead-containing plumbing materials. Before drinking or cooking with your water after it has sat overnight or longer, flush your home’s pipes by running water through the kitchen faucet, taking a shower, or doing any other non-consumptive water usage. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home. You can use this water on house plants or to flush toilets.

 

         c. Clean Aerators – Aerators are small attachments at the tips of faucets which regulate the flow of water. They can accumulate small particles of lead in their screens. It’s a good idea to remove your aer                ators at least monthly and clean them out. See how to clean your aerator at important-resources-for-safe-drinking-water.pdf (epa.gov)

For more information on lead in drinking water please visit:

MassDEP: https://www.mass.gov/lead-in-drinking-water

US EPA: https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative: https://www.lslr-collaborative.org/

 

Town of Lee Water Service Inventory Information

 

Take the Survey OR Make an Appointment for assessment by clicking the links below...

(limited spots available) 

VIDEO TUTORIAL (how to locate and identify service lines)

If you still have questions, please call Tighe & Bond @ (413) 394-3099

In 2021, the US EPA published revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule that are intended to better protect children and communities from lead exposure risks and support efforts to remove lead from drinking water. The revisions require all Public Water Systems to complete an inventory of all service lines connected to their distribution system and develop a Lead Service Line Replacement Plan. The inventory must include the pipe material and other information for both the portions of the service line within the public way and private property. The Inventory and Replacement Plan must be submitted by October 16, 2024.

In working toward a lead-free water distribution system for its customers, the Town of Lee applied for and received a grant under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) that will cover 100% of the costs associated with developing the water service line inventory and lead service line replacement plan. Activities planned for the project include:

  • reviewing existing records that may contain information on the material of each service
  • distributing a survey with instructions so customers may provide information or photos of their service line to help identify the pipe material
  • conducting in-person service line inspections where Water Department staff and/or a contractor will inspect the service line as it enters a customer’s building
  • conducting physical inspections of the service line where a contractor will inspect the service line via excavations
  • providing public education and notification materials to customers and the community regarding lead and development of the inventory and replacement plan

 

The Town of Lee is committed to providing its customers with a safe and reliable source of drinking water and regularly conducts sampling for lead in accordance with state and federal requirements. Information regarding lead in drinking water is provided in the Town’s Annual Water Quality Report.

If you would like to help, please review the information provided on this website with instructions to locate your water service line, how to determine the service line material type, and then complete the customer survey using the link provided on the Town’s website (insert website here).

For more information on lead in drinking water please visit:

MassDEP: https://www.mass.gov/lead-in-drinking-water

US EPA: https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative: https://www.lslr-collaborative.org/

Thank you for your help in this important endeavor!