A water service line is a pipe that connects a customer’s house or building to the water main in the street. Typically, the service line is less than 2-inches in diameter and is made of various material. The most common material in use is copper, however other materials have been used including, but not limited to, galvanized steel, iron, plastic lead, and others.

The Water Utility Company owns a portion of the service line, typically from the main to the curb stop, found near the street curb or sidewalk. The property owner owns the rest of the service line (from curb stop) all the way into the house or building being served. The curb stop is an outdoor shut-off valve, which may be a water meter pit or a valve. See diagram.

The Water Utility Company replaces thousands of service lines annually as part of its asset renewal program. Property owners may also choose to replace their portion of the service line for various reasons. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the portion of the service line owned by the property owner if needed as a result of a repair.

During planned service line replacement projects, Pennsylvania American Water provides the property owner with specific information on the project and general guidance on flushing the new service line.

Over the years, plumbers have used many different materials, including copper, PVC, lead, galvanized steel, and others. If we find lead or a combination of lead and galvanized piping during our main replacement project, we’ll contact you to discuss replacing your service line. Replacing lead service lines reduces your potential exposure to lead. For a quick guide to determining your service line material, click here.

Yes. Pennsylvania American Water’s Lead Service Line replacement program was approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in October 2019 consistent with the passage of Act 120 of 2018. The program’s public rollout was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but formally began in coordination with our 2022 water main replacement program in early 2022. As part of this program, the company will systematically replace customer-owned lead service lines with the customer’s consent.

We believe that replacing customer-owned lead service lines through this program is a reasonable, cost-effective way to help avoid customer health and safety concerns associated with lead service lines.

A March 2020 report released by the American University’s Center for Environmental Policy (AU) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) cited Pennsylvania American Water’s Lead Service Line replacement program as a model for other utilities across the country to follow.

If the customer-owned portion of your service line is made of lead or galvanized material, we’d like to work with you to replace it at no direct cost to you. Under a signed agreement with each customer, Pennsylvania American Water will perform the work, cover the cost, and provide a 2-year warranty. The customer will retain ownership of the new water service line once installed.

Here’s what to expect:

1. AGREE TO HAVE YOUR SERVICE LINE CHECKED. We can check to see if your line is lead. We may need your signed approval.
2. WE’LL CHECK YOUR LINE. With your approval, we will check to see if your service line is made of lead. This may involve a company representative inspecting your service line where it enters your home and connects to your water meter. It also may involve our contractor obtaining a mark out of underground utilities and checking your home electrical system grounding. In addition, we may need to dig up to three small test pits over your existing service line to determine your service line material. The number and size of test pits may vary.
3. WE’LL LET YOU KNOW IF YOUR LINE IS LEAD. We will inform you if lead pipe is found. And, if it is, we’ll need your approval to replace it. Replacing the entire lead portion of the service line at this time can help you better manage your risk of potential exposure to lead in drinking water.
4. AGREE TO HAVE YOUR LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACED. First, we’ll meet with you to discuss the project specifics and how to prepare the work area. Then, before we can proceed, the property owner must sign and return an agreement to allow our contractor to work on your property.
5. WE’LL REPLACE THE LEAD SERVICE LINE. Our contractor will install the new water service line. Once a project is initiated, the service line replacement generally can be done in one day; the larger main replacement project this work is connected to may take several weeks or months to complete. You may want to store a few gallons of water for drinking while the replacement work is being done. Lawn, driveway or sidewalk restoration work will take place following the project, but there’s no need for you to be home while we complete the restoration.
6. FLUSH YOUR PLUMBING. Your household plumbing will need to be thoroughly flushed to remove any pipe scale that may have come loose during construction. This step should be completed BEFORE you consume tap water or use hot water. This also is a good time to clean aerators. We’ll provide you with printed instructions for initial and ongoing maintenance flushing. Our contractor will coordinate with you to perform the initial flush. Flushing instructions will be provided to you and can also be found here. It is very important to complete proper flushing following the replacement.
7. SAMPLE OFFER. Between 3 and 6 months after the replacement, we’ll contact you via postcard to offer a water sample. Information on how to respond and receive the sample kit will be provided at that time.

The cost of replacing lead service lines will be handled in the same manner as the company’s regular water main replacement program through its Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) – a small charge added to customers’ water and wastewater bills to allow Pennsylvania American Water to replace more of its aging system annually.

These costs are allocated across the company’s full customer base, meaning the customer will not have to pay the cost of replacing their service line; however, the customer will retain ownership of and responsibility for the customer-owned portion upon replacement.

The company will prioritize projects in areas where there is evidence of lead/galvanized service lines and/or in areas where known construction work is taking place and may disturb the service line, thereby elevating the possibility of exposure.

Pennsylvania American Water’s goal is to replace all lead/galvanized service lines over time. Customer-requested lead service line replacements will be grouped by geographic location and undertaken when the number of customer requests in a given location allows the company to realize reasonable economies of scale. The company will strive to maintain the wait-time following a customer request to less than one year. This is subject to funding approved by the PA Public Utility Commission. If you prefer not to wait for the main to be replaced along your street, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-565-7292 and ask about our lead service line replacement program to determine next steps.

Important: Customers can still use their water as they normally would, as the water provided by Pennsylvania American Water continues to meet state and federal water quality standards, including those set for lead.

Yes. The EPA’s lead standard is an action level that requires treatment modifications if lead test results exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb) in more than 10 percent of first draw samples taken from household taps. Pennsylvania American Water tests for lead at the end of its treatment process. Our testing has shown that lead is not an issue in the water exiting any of our water treatment facilities. We also conduct tests in our distribution system in accordance with the EPA regulatory requirements. In addition, we take steps to reduce the potential of lead leaching from service lines and household pipes into the water by managing the pH levels in the water leaving our treatment facilities and adding a corrosion inhibitor where needed. Learn more here.

Not necessarily. You might have lead in your drinking water if your service line, household plumbing or fixtures contain lead. Homes built before 1930 are more likely to have lead plumbing systems. Lead pipes are dull grey in color and scratch easily revealing a shiny surface. If your house was built before January 1986, you are more likely to have lead-soldered joints on copper piping. Lead solder is a silver or grey color. If you do, the chance of the lead leaching into your drinking water is greater when water has been standing in the pipes for more than six hours.

You cannot see, smell or taste lead, and boiling water will not remove lead. Here are steps you can take to reduce your potential exposure if lead exists in your home plumbing:

• Flush your taps. The longer the water lies dormant in your home’s plumbing, the more lead it might contain. If the water in your faucet has gone unused for more than 6 hours, flush the tap with cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking or using it to cook. To conserve water, catch the running water and use it to water your plants.
• Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water has the potential to contain more lead than cold water. If hot water is needed for cooking, heat cold water on the stove or in the microwave.
• Routinely remove and clean all faucet aerators.
• Check to see if your interior plumbing or faucets contain lead and replace any that do. Look for the “Lead Free” label when replacing or installing plumbing fixtures.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing water filters in household appliances, such as refrigerators and ice makers, as well as home water treatment units and pitchers. Look for NSF 53 certified filters.
• Flush after plumbing changes. Changes to your service line, meter, or interior plumbing may result in sediment, possibly containing lead, in your water supply. Remove the strainers from each faucet and run the water for 3 to 5 minutes.

For customers with lead service lines, solder or fixtures, yes. The longer the water lies dormant in your home’s plumbing, the more lead it might contain. If the water in your faucet has gone unused for more than six hours, flush the tap with cold water for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking or using it to cook. To conserve water, catch the running water and use it to water your plants.

You can have your water tested for lead. Since you cannot see, taste or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of knowing.

Pennsylvania American Water does not generally provide lead testing for individual customers. Customers can choose to have their water tested at their cost at a certified laboratory. However, if you suspect that you have a lead service line, you can contact Pennsylvania American Water at 1-800-565-7292 and request that your line be checked for lead as part of the company’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

Galvanized service lines are steel pipes that have been dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. Galvanized piping was commonly installed in homes built before 1960 and was used as an alternative to lead pipes for water supply lines. Galvanized lines that are or were downstream of a lead source such as a lead service line, can contribute to lead in drinking water. They also can capture lead from upstream lead sources and release lead if water quality changes or the pipe is disturbed.

The need for a home treatment device is a customer decision. If you choose to purchase a home filter, NSF International created a Consumer Guide to NSF Certified Lead Filtration Devices for Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water. For more information, visit www.nsf.org/info/leadfiltrationguide. Always consult the device manufacturer for information on treatment device maintenance and potential impacts to your drinking water or household plumbing. The EPA also offers information on identifying drinking water filters, you can find information here.

You can find out more information by visiting our More Resources page.

To comply with requirements of the U.S. EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR) by 2024, Pennsylvania American Water is undertaking a project to identify the service line material type on both the company side and the customer side for all of its customers. This project is conducted by Greeley and Hansen environmental engineers on behalf of Pennsylvania American Water and start in early 2022.

The project consists of reviewing existing and available data and conducting subsequent field investigations, which may include customer surveys, interior home inspections, predictive modeling and/or test pitting. Using the information gathered to date, the company will has developed a public-facing web-based map that shows company- and customer-side service line material. If your service material is identified as Unknown, we encourage you to identify and submit your service material using our self-reporting survey.