Lead and Copper
As part of PWSD #9’s commitment to provide safe drinking water to our residents, we comply with all regulations of the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act.
As a result of recent revisions to the act’s Lead and Copper Rule, we are required to create an inventory of water service line materials throughout the district and make it publicly available by the end of October 2024. This assessment will include both the customer side of the service line – the water line that connects your home/business to its water meter – and the district side of the service line, which connects the meter to the water main.
We maintain records on a majority of the district-owned service lines; however, there is little information available about the customer-owned portions. (Currently the district is not aware of any lead lines in use in the district.) To gather this information, we have come up with a short survey about the materials used inside and outside your home/business.
Service Line Survey
This survey consists of three parts.
- Property and contact information
- Customer owned service line material (outside the structure)
- Structure primary plumbing material (inside the structure)
If you own multiple properties, please complete one survey per property address.
A video on identification of service line materials and picture identification guides are available at:
DNR Article – Do you have a Lead Service Line?
DNR Article – How to Identify your Water Service Line Material
District Service Line Map
We have developed a new tool where you can search for your property address and determine the material of your water service line and the status of the Water District service line. The water service line is the pipe that brings water into your home from the water meter in the yard.
Customer Notification
If the Water district was not able to determine either their service line material or the customer service line material, we sent out the following letters to those customers, alerting them, that their service line may possibly be lead.
PWSD9 LSLI Notification Letter
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 increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
Lead in drinking water, although rarely a sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person’s total lead exposure. Infants who drink baby formulas and concentrates that are mixed with water containing lead are particularly at risk. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead. Boiling water does not reduce lead levels.
Please see the following link for additional information concerning the health effects of lead.
DNR Article – Lead in Drinking Water: Important Information on How to Protect your Health
