Lead and Copper FAQs

Yes, your water is currently safe to drink. However, as part of our commitment to ensuring the highest water quality standards and to maintain compliance with new regulations, we were required to inform you via mail that you have a lead, galvanized, or unknown material water service. 

In accordance with regulations and guidelines set forth by the state of Massachusetts and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regular testing and monitoring of water quality are conducted at specific water services to ensure compliance with safety standards. Our water system is monitored and treated to meet these stringent requirements, and no lead action level exceedance has been identified.

To help reduce your lead exposure, run your water before drinking and cooking. Water that sits stagnant in a lead pipe for a prolonged period is most likely to contain lead. 

According to the EPA, CDC, and WHO, lead is a toxic, malleable metal that poses a serious health risk when consumed. However, your water is currently safe to use and consume, even if your pipes are lead. Our water is treated to prevent corrosion of the pipes and the dissolution of lead into the water. 

To help reduce your lead exposure, run your water before drinking and cooking. Water that sits stagnant in a lead pipe for a prolonged period is most likely to contain lead.

Galvanized pipes are iron or steel pipes coated in zinc on the exterior to provide corrosion resistance. These pipes were historically used in conjunction with lead pipes or can be lined on the interior with lead. Lead can be absorbed by these pipes and re-released over time if the water conditions are not treated for corrosion control. Our water is treated to prevent corrosion of the pipes and the dissolution of lead into the water.  

To help reduce your lead exposure, run your water before drinking and cooking. Water that sits stagnant in a lead pipe for a prolonged period is most likely to contain lead.

Unknown material pipes could be made of Lead or Galvanized materials and, therefore, could contain lead. 

Ask the caller to follow the directions in their letter to complete the self-assessment. They can find the QR code on page two and follow the directions from their mobile device.  

If they cannot find their letter, or cannot complete the self-assessment, offer to schedule a time for operations staff to come to their house and identify their service for them. 

help reduce your lead exposure, run your water before drinking and cooking. Water that sits stagnant in a lead pipe for a prolonged period is most likely to contain lead.

Ask the caller for their address. Use that information to look up their specific service record in the inventory to identify their service line. 

If their service still can’t be identified (because it is unknown in the inventory) ask the caller to follow the directions on their letter to complete the self-assessment. They can find the QR code on page two and follow the directions from their mobile device.  

If they cannot find their letter, or cannot complete the self-assessment, offer to schedule a time for operations staff to come to their house and identify their service for them.

Historically, regulations have required water systems to utilize corrosion control treatment to prevent the dissolution of lead from legacy pipes into the water. Regulations and guidelines set forth by the state of Massachusetts and the EPA require regular testing and monitoring of water quality at specific water services to ensure compliance with safety standards. Our water system is monitored and treated to meet these stringent requirements. And no lead action level exceedance has been identified. 

The EPA and the state of Massachusetts have recently released new regulations requiring water systems to identify water service materials and inform customers who have lead, galvanized, or unknown-material water services that they could be at an increased risk of lead exposure than someone without a lead service.

You and the water system jointly own the water service. The system owns the portion of the service under the road and up to the property line. The portion of the service over your property is owned by you.

We are still discussing internally the plans for replacing lead service lines. As soon as we have information to share, we will contact you.

Our system has a longstanding policy of not completing work on private property. 

We are still discussing internally the plans for replacing lead service lines. As soon as we have information to share, we will contact you.

Yes, you can hire a contractor to replace your portion of the water service. Please inform us if you choose this option, and we may replace our portion of the service at the same time.  

The System maintains a list of approved water service contractors. We can provide you with the list if you wish.

We cannot provide estimates for private-side replacements as it is our current policy not to complete service replacements on private property. 

The System maintains a list of approved water service contractors. We can provide you with the list if you wish.

Our system has a longstanding policy of not completing work on private property. However, we maintain a list of approved water service contractors that can replace your service.

Depending on the method used to remove and replace the pipes, your yard may be impacted. The main method of service extraction will be to cut a hole in the yard near the property line and pull the service lines out through that hole, thus saving your property from any unnecessary digging. If that method were to fail, the next step would be to dig a trench to install the service. This may impact your yard more heavily.

Helpful Links:

• EPA information on the danger of lead in drinking water.
• CDC Health Effects of Lead Exposure.
• World Health Organization Lead in drinking water: Health risks, monitoring, and corrective actions.
• World Health Organization Lead Poisoning.
• Healthychildren.org information on the danger of lead in tap water
• How to identify Lead Service Lines
• EPA Ways to reduce potential lead exposure