Lead Service Line Inventory Program

As part of the recent Lead and Copper Rule Updates, the EPA has mandated that every public water supplier take an inventory of all the water service lines in their distribution system primarily to identify and remove lead service lines. The Middleborough Water Department began conducting this inventory of water service lines in 2022.

There are over 6,000 metered water service lines in Town. Of these, the material of approximately 1,300 water service lines is unknown. The customers with unknown service lines are receiving a letter notice with information on how to determine and document their water service line material. Click here for a copy of the letter notice.

What You Should Know About Lead

Our system’s water mains that carry the water to you are made mostly of iron and plastic, and therefore do not add lead to water. However, lead can get into tap water through the service line that connects your home to the water main if it is made of lead. Lead may also come from lead solder used to connect pipes in home plumbing, and from some faucets and fixtures. When lead is present in water, it is typically due to the water flowing through service lines or internal pipes or plumbing in buildings with lead pipes or plumbing with lead solder or brass.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Because lead may pose serious health risks, both the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that “there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood”.

If you think you have a lead service line and want to reduce your exposure to lead, you should do the following:

Use only cold, fresh water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold.
Do not boil the water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead. Excessive boiling of water makes the lead and copper more concentrated – the lead and copper remains when the water evaporates.
Test your home for lead: The only way to determine the level of lead in drinking water at your home is to have the water tested by a state certified laboratory. The cost to test is usually between $10 and $50. Consider having your paint tested also. A list of labs is available online at http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/DEP/Labcert/Labcert.aspx or you can call MassDEP at 978-682-5237 or e-mail Labcert@mass.gov.
Consider alternative sources or treatment of water. If your water contains lead you may want to consider purchasing bottled water or a water filter. If considering a filter read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 800- NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality. Also, if you are considering using bottled water, note that it may cost up to 1,000 times more than tap water. Simply flushing your tap, as described above, is usually a cheaper and equally effective alternative.
Check whether your home has a lead service line. IF YOU DO, HAVE IT REMOVED.
Contact your health care provider or your local health department to find out if your child needs to be tested for lead. A blood lead level test is the only way to know if your child is being exposed to lead. For more information on Massachusetts’ childhood lead testing program, contact the Department of Public Health (DPH) at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/childhood-lead-poisoning-prevention-program or at 1-800-532-9571.
If you have health concerns, please contact your health care provider with any questions.

For more information on Lead see https://www.mass.gov/lead-in-drinking-water

Frequently Asked Questions

How does lead get into the drinking water?

Visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

https://www.mass.gov/doc/lead-in-drinking-water-faqs-english-0/download for more information.

(source: https://cleanwater.org/lead-and-drinking-water)

What is a water service line?

A water service line is a pipe that brings water from the water main in the street into your home. It may be made of the following materials:

(source: https://www.amwater.com/njaw/Water-Quality/Lead-and-Drinking-Water/pipe-material-information)

A service line may have different parts made of different materials.

Who owns the water service line?

The Middleborough Water Department owns the service line from the main in the street to the curb stop, typically at the property line or in the sidewalk. The property owner owns the service line from the curb stop to the meter at the home.

Why are lead service lines an issue?

Contact your health care provider or your local health department to find out if your child needs to be tested for lead. A blood lead level test is the only way to know if your child is being exposed to lead. For more information on Massachusetts’ childhood lead testing program, contact the Department of Public Health (DPH) at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/childhood-lead-poisoning-prevention-program or at 1-800-532-9571.

If you have health concerns, please contact your health care provider with any questions.

Can I shower in lead-contaminated water?

Yes. Bathing and showering should be safe for you and your children, even if the water contains lead over EPA’s action level. Human skin does not absorb lead in water.

Why did I receive a letter notice asking me to fill out a material inventory survey?

You received a letter notice because the water service line serving your property was identified as having an unknown material on the private (homeowner) side. The notice includes instructions on how to identify and document your water service line material.

Why did I not receive a letter notice asking me to fill out a material inventory survey?

You did not receive a letter notice asking to fill out a material inventory survey because the Middleborough Water Department has a record of the water service line material for your property. Your water service line is not lead.

What is my role in this project?

By filling out the material inventory survey, you help Middleborough Water Department complete an EPA mandated comprehensive inventory of all the service line materials in our system. By doing so, you help determine the locations that need to be addressed and even potentially help get funding from the EPA or MassDEP to assist with replacing service lines.

How do I fill out the survey?

If you have received a letter notice in the mail, Middleborough Water Department does not have a record of the material of the service line in your home. The letter notice you received in the mail includes instructions to identify and document the water service line material. Click here for a copy of the letter notice

Does the Water Department currently sample for lead?

The Water Department currently samples sites throughout Town for both lead and copper. There have been no violations since at least 2017. The Town public water quality data is found in Water Quality Reports listed on the Town website: https://www.middleboroughma.gov/240/Water

I think I have a lead service line, how do I reduce my exposure to lead?

Use only cold, fresh water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold.
Do not boil the water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead. Excessive boiling of water makes the lead and copper more concentrated – the lead and copper remains when the water evaporates.
Test your home for lead: The only way to determine the level of lead in drinking water at your home is to have the water tested by a state certified laboratory. The cost to test is usually between $10 and $50. Consider having your paint tested also. A list of labs is available online at http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/DEP/Labcert/Labcert.aspx or you can call MassDEP at 978-682-5237 or e-mail Labcert@mass.gov.
Consider alternative sources or treatment of water. If your water contains lead you may want to consider purchasing bottled water or a water filter. If considering a filter read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 800- NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality. Also, if you are considering using bottled water, note that it may cost up to 1,000 times more than tap water. Simply flushing your tap, as described above, is usually a cheaper and equally effective alternative.
Check whether your home has a lead service line. IF YOU DO, HAVE IT REMOVED.
Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water. Refer to the following link for cleaning your aerator: Click here to get a step by step instructions from Michigan Department of Health & Human Services on cleaning your Aerators.

Where can I get more information?

More specific information about the Lead and Copper Rule and its revisions may be found here: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-and-copper-rule

More specific information about the water service line material verification directives may be found here:

https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/revised-lead-and-copper-rule

The EPA’s response to the White House’s December 2021 statement may be found here:

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-guidance-help-communities-locate-lead-pipes-can-contaminate-drinking-water

Who should I contact if I have questions?

The Middleborough Water Department is pleased to provide any information related to this project between the hours of 7 am to 6 pm Monday, 7 am to 3:30 pm Tues-Thurs, and 7 am to 11:30 am Friday.

For any questions you may have, please contact Middleborough Water Department at WaterInventory@middleboroughma.gov or (508) 946-2482. Your feedback and mutual open communication are critical to the success of this project.

You may also contact the Mass DEP Drinking Water Program representative at (617) 292-5770 or program.director-dwp@mass.gov.