Understanding Your Water Service Line Notification
Letter
Why did I receive a letter about my service line?
New EPA regulations require public water providers to notify all customers served through a water service line made of lead (Pb), galvanized steel that is or was downstream of lead, or unknown materials. The letter is meant to explain the health risks of lead exposure, share simple precautions that can be taken to minimize any, and where to find more information about lead safety.The letter does not mean that lead is present in your drinking water. EPA requires all public water systems to send this notification to customers annually; therefore, you will continue to receive a copy of this letter each year until your service line is replaced, or if it is unknown until the material is confirmed to be non-lead.
Is my water safe to drink?
Yes. The City of Rockmart is dedicated to producing drinking water that meets and exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. Water provided by Rockmart is lead-free when it leaves our treatment plants, and our water mains (the pipes that distribute water throughout the community) are not made of lead. The city manages water quality at the water treatment plant to help prevent corrosion throughout the system and in privately-owned service lines and plumbing. We regularly test our water for lead and other contaminants in accordance with EPA standards.
Are all homes at risk?
No. We are specifically concerned about water service lines made of lead, or galvanized steel pipe that may have been attached to a lead connector or ‘gooseneck’, which is a short flexible piece of lead pipe that was commonly used to connect service lines to water mains. Most homes and non-residential buildings we serve do not have these, but some potentially do.
What is a water service line?
The water service line is the pipe that connects a home or other types of buildings to the city owned water distribution system. Water mains typically run underneath streets and alleys or along public rights-of-way. Individual service lines connect homes and businesses to these mains. A meter is typically placed along the service line, with the city owning the service line from the main to the meter and the customer owning the service line from the meter to the building. Customer service lines are commonly made of copper, PVC or other types of plastic, galvanized steel and lead.
How can I find out if my service line contains lead?
Rockmart is in the process of building an inventory of all water service lines connected to its system in accordance with new EPA Lead and Copper rules. This includes researching historical records and conducting on-site investigations to confirm the presence or absence of lead. Rockmart’s inventory can be checked at City Hall at 316 N. Piedmont Avenue. However, in many cases, the materials may be listed as ‘Unknown’, in which case we will continue our efforts over the next year to figure out the material.If you are anxious about having lead, especially if you live in an older home and your service line is ‘Unknown’, you may consider hiring your own plumber to complete an inspection. If you do this, please ask the plumber to contact us so that we can obtain a report to update our inventory.
How do I protect myself from lead?
If you have a service line made of lead or galvanized steel requiring replacement, or if you want to take extra measure to protect yourself in the event you have any lead in your interior plumbing and fixtures, here are simple measure that can be taken to reduce your risk.
- Replace plumbing materials
containing lead and safely remove lead paint. Contact us to let
us know you plan to replace your line. Also consider replacing brass
faucets, fittings, and valves in your building plumbing that contain lead.
If you believe you have lead paint, hire a professional to safely remove
it.
- Run the cold water to flush out
lead. The longer the water sits on leaded plumbing, the more
lead it may contain. Let the water run from the tap before using it for
drinking or cooking any time the water in the faucet has gone unused for
more than six hours. For more detailed instructions on flushing, please
refer to EPA guidance at http://www.epa.gov/.
- Use cold, flushed water for cooking
and preparing baby formula. Lead can dissolve into hot water
more easily than cold water. Note that boiling water does not
remove lead.
- Remove and clean aerators/screens
on plumbing fixtures. Over time, lead sediment can collect in aerator screens. Remove and clean aerator screens at least twice a year by soaking them in vinegar and scrubbing them with a toothbrush.
- Test your water for lead. State-approved commercial labs provide water testing kits for lead. Like lead swabs, water testing may help you identify lead sources in your building plumbing.
- Purchase a water filter. Some
water filters are designed to remove lead from your tap water. Read the
package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead.