Lead and Copper Rule Revision
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which require all U.S. utilities with water distribution systems to develop a comprehensive water service line material inventory, implement new compliance sampling standards, and make the results publicly available.
Ensuring Safe & Clean Water for All Dundee Residents
At the Town of Dundee, we’re committed to delivering safe and reliable drinking water to every single home and business. As part of this commitment, we’re working to replace aging lead and galvanized water service lines across town. This initiative is in response to a nation-wide federal mandate and aligns with our dedication to the health and safety of our community.
To expedite Dundee’s compliance with the LCRR, the Town has launched the Pipe Inventory Program. The program will help ensure that our customers have the resources they need to understand the LCRR and are clear on any action they may need to take.
Our Lead Service Line Replacement Program is designed to:
- Service Line Inventory: We’re auditing service lines to determine the presence of any lead components.
- Replacement Process: Identified lead service lines will be replaced promptly.
- Private-Side Galvanized Lines: Town will support property owners in identifying and addressing galvanized lines (which can absorb lead over time), if needed on private property.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with EPA’s Revised Lead and Copper Rule, provide transparency to the process, and keep Dundee ahead of the mandated schedule.
A service line is the underground pipe that connects your home to the water main, delivering water to faucets, bathtubs, showers, and other water outlets inside the home. A service line can typically be seen connected to the water meter outside the home and has a utility owned side as well as customer owned portion, as illustrated in the graphic below.
The use of lead in construction in the water industry was a common practice but was stopped in 1989 when the EPA prohibited the use of lead in water systems. This will help ensure the highest quality water for your home and the Dundee community.
The water provided to residents by the Town of Dundee does not contain lead when it leaves our water treatment facilities and has a carefully balanced pH to prevent corroding distribution pipes and plumbing. The latest water quality report can be found here.
As part of compliance with the LCRR regulations, service line material information is provided to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Every customer service line has a location identifier in our inventory database, which is also being developed through the Pipe Inventory Map. If you receive drinking water as a customer of the Town of Dundee Utilities, you will be able to find this information later by visiting our webpage townofdundee.com/aboututilities or call 863.438.8330. Please note if you are on a private well or receive drinking water from a different utility, your pipe material is not included in the City’s inventory.
Important Information About Lead in Drinking Water
Drinking water sources do not typically have naturally occurring lead. Instead, certain types of plumbing materials that transport drinking water to homes and businesses can deposit lead into the water. These plumbing materials include older service lines, faucets, and other fixtures. It is possible for lead to enter drinking water because of corrosion caused by the wearing of pipes, or from residential plumbing fixtures containing lead. This includes lead or lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass, and chrome-plated brass faucets. When present, lead service lines are typically the most significant source of lead in the water.
The Health Effects of Lead
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 an increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
Learn more about preventing childhood lead poisoning at cdc.gov/lead.
Sources of Lead
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Most sources result from human activities. Some of the most common sources of lead are:
- Lead-based paint
- Lead-contaminated dust or soil
- Pottery, pewter, and brass fixtures
- Plumbing materials containing lead
- Food
- Cosmetics
- Lead on clothing or shoes carried from work areas or certain hobbies
- Toys, playground equipment, and children’s metal jewelry
Lead Leaching Factors
When tap water stays in contact with plumbing materials containing lead for an extended amount of time, lead has a greater opportunity to leach out of the pipe or fixture into the drinking water. This means that standing water in the pipe drawn from the tap after several hours without use, such as in the morning or later in the afternoon, may contain higher levels of lead than water that has been continuously flushed through the pipe throughout the day.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) establish specific monitoring, testing, and reporting requirements to address health risks from lead exposure in drinking water. To comply with the LCRR, the Town of Dundee is developing an inventory of customer water service lines.
Concerned customers can follow the tips below for additional protection from the potential for lead in drinking water:
Run water to flush pipes: If a tap has been unused for several hours, flush the water for several minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. To avoid wasting water, capture and reuse the flushed water for irrigation, cleaning, etc.
Use only cold water for cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula. If hot water is needed, collect cold water after flushing and then heat it up. Boiling water does not reduce or remove lead.
Filter your water: For drinking, cooking, and baby formula, use water that has been run through a filter. Filters should be certified by an American National Standards Institute, like the NSF 53 for lead removal and NSF 42 for particulate removal. Maintain and replace the filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
Clean aerators: Aerators and/or screens on faucets should be cleaned periodically (every 3-6 months) and more often if there has been a service line replacement (every month for six months). Aerators should be replaced if damaged or worn out.
Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead: Brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute to lead in drinking water. Current regulations have established a maximum lead concentration of 0.25 percent for drinking water fixtures. Visit the NSF website at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures.
Why would a line on private property need to be replaced?
A line replacement on the property side of the meter is necessary if:
- Lead service lines from the water main to the meter are confirmed and replaced by City staff, and
- Lead or galvanized lines exist on the property side of the meter.
Note: Galvanized lines can absorb lead from lead service lines and must be replaced after the city-owned line is replaced.
What needs to be replaced on the private property side?
If notified to replace the line on your property, the replacement should start from the meter to the home’s foundation, typically connected at the main shut-off valve.
What do I Need to Do?
If your line is identified for replacement, don’t worry – we’ll handle most of the work. Here’s what happens next:
Step One: Check the Service Line on the Private Property Side
As a property owner or res5330ident, you are responsible for maintaining the portion of the service line that runs from the water meter to your home or building. This is called the customer service line. The EPA recommends homeowners inspect the service line. Any lead or galvanized pipe or components found should be replaced by the property owner. A licensed plumber can assist with both the inspection and pipe replacement.
Please note, the cost of replacing the customer service line is the responsibility of the property owner.
Step Two: Flush Your System
Now that the water service line has been replaced, it’s important to flush your water system to remove any particles that may have entered your plumbing during the replacement.
For more information on reducing lead exposure and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov/lead, or contact your health care provider.
If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help ensure that your water remains safe and clean. For additional information on the nationwide effort to remove lead components from water systems, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/revised-lead-and-copper-rule.
Tracy Mercer
Public Utilities & Special Projects Director