Lead and Copper Service Line Inventory

UBRC Completes Lead and Copper Service Line Inventory

The Utilities Board of Rainbow City (UBRC) has successfully completed its Lead and Copper Service Line Inventory in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) under the revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

This inventory, mandated under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), is an essential step toward identifying lead and copper service lines within the system. The inventory was completed in October 2024, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations designed to protect public health by minimizing lead exposure through drinking water.

As part of the regulatory compliance process, a comprehensive review of the Rainbow City water distribution system was conducted to identify and classify service lines potentially containing lead or copper. The Lead Service Line Inventory, based on a template provided by ADEM, is available for public review in Adobe pdf format, under “Related Documents” on this website page. 

UBRC is pleased to announce that the system has no lead or galvanized service lines in the water distribution system. The inventory survey was conducted by field verifying the material type at the meter box, laboratory testing water samples, and reviewing customer service tap records. This effort highlights the UBRC’s commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water for all residents. The Board will continue to work closely with ADEM and the EPA to meet all required standards and timelines for public water systems.

In accordance with the EPA regulations for the LCRR, UBRC is required to notify customers when it’s determined that a portion or the entire water pipe from the water meter to the home/business may be made from galvanized material that may have absorbed lead.  The EPA has defined these service lines as “galvanized requiring replacement”.  For those customers that received a “Notice of Galvanized Service Line Material” letter, we have provided steps you can take to reduce lead in drinking water in the Frequently Asked Questions listed below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – NOTICE OF GALVANIZED SERVICE LINE MATERIAL

What is a “service line”?

A service line is the underground pipe that transport potable drinking water from UBRC’s water main to a home/business. The service line connects the water main to the water lines and plumbing on the customers property.

Each service line and connection may consist of multiple plumbing material types including, but not limited to, lead, copper, galvanized iron, and plastic.

What is an “initial service line inventory”?

In 2021, the EPA revised the Lead & Copper Rule (LCRR) to include a new requirement that all water utility systems across the country must conduct a survey to inventory the material type of water service lines and connections to identify lead and/or galvanized pipe that may exist in a water system. The inventory also included the customer’s side of the water meter.

The EPA required the initial service line inventory be completed and submitted by October 16, 2024 to identify lead and/or galvanized pipe in the water system. For more information about the EPA’s revised Lead and Copper Rule, visit www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/revised-lead-and-copper-rule.

What should I do if I have a galvanized service line from the meter to my home/business?

It is important to note that finding a galvanized line does not mean you have been exposed to lead. Galvanized material in your plumbing system can absorb lead if its present in the drinking water supply. UBRC regularly tests the water at a selected number of samples sites in the water system. UBRC completed its mandated Lead and Copper Rule sampling in December 2023 with a 90^th percentile value of 0.0012 ppb and more than 76% of the homes tested receiving non-detect results for lead particles. Please note that the EPA action level for lead in drinking water is 15 ppb.

You can also have your water tested for lead. Since you cannot, see, taste, or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only accurate method to determine whether there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water. It is recommended to use a certified laboratory.

How can I be exposed to lead?

The most common source of lead exposure is from paint in homes and buildings built before 1978. Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the main sources of lead exposure in U.S. children. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978.

Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, lead can also be found in some household plumbing materials and some water service lines. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.

What are the risks of lead exposure?

Lead can cause a variety of adverse health effects in people who are exposed. These effects may include increases in the blood pressure of some adults; delays in normal physical and mental development in babies and young children; and, deficits in the attention span, hearing, and learning abilities of children.

How does lead get into my drinking water?

Lead leaches into water over time through corrosion that causes dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing. Lead can leach into water from pipes, solder, fixtures, faucets (brass) and fittings. The amount of lead in your water depends on the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long the water stays in the pipes, the water's corrosivity, and water temperature.

Is my home at risk for lead plumbing?

The EPA defined high-risk homes as follows:

• Homes with a lead service line that connects the water main to your home's internal plumbing.
• Homes with copper pipe and lead solder built after 1982 and before 1988.
• Homes with lead pipes.

In 1986, Congress enacted the "lead ban," which stated that not only public water systems, but also anyone else who intends to install or repair drinking water plumbing connected to a public water system, must use "lead free materials." As a result, homes built in or after 1988 are far less likely to have lead solder.

How can I reduce my exposure to lead in my drinking water? 

There are many steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water. 

• Run your water to flush out lead. If it hasn't been used for several hours, run the water for three to five minutes to clear most of the lead from the water. In an effort to conserve water, you can catch the flushed tap water for plants or other household uses such as cleaning. Check out the Flushing Instructions page for suggestions and recommendations on best practices for flushing your home.  
• Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Never cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. 
• Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce the lead content. 
• Periodically remove and clean the faucet screen/aerator. While removed, run the water to eliminate debris. 
• Consider investing in a home water treatment device or alternative water source. When purchasing a water treatment device, make sure it is certified under NSF/ANSI-53 to remove lead. 
• Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead. Brass faucets, fittings, and valves may leach lead into drinking water. Products sold after Jan. 4, 2014, must by law contain very low levels of lead (0.2 percent by weight); however, prior to 2014, plumbing products could contain up to 8 percent lead by weight. 
• Clean your faucet aerators. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also referred to as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and metals, including lead particles, can collect in the aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water. Its recommended you flush the cold-water line for 5 minutes after removing the aerator.

Should I test my children for exposure to lead? 

Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure. A simple blood test can determine your child's blood-lead level.

Where can I get more information?

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is also available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1(800) 426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

UBRC is committed to providing safe, reliable drinking water to our customers and the community. Should you require any additional information or assistance, please feel free to contact us at (256) 442-2553 or via email at info@rbcwater.net.