If you are concerned about lead, please contact the Municipal Services & Operations Department by emailing leadandcopper@lawrenceks.org
Lead in faucets, plumbing in homes, and solder connecting plumbing lines, as well as old lead lines can affect each home differently. In Lawrence, the water we provide to homes and businesses is essentially lead-free in the distribution system and prior to entering your individual household plumbing. If you are concerned about lead, we have some frequently asked questions and recommendations below to reduce lead in your drinking water. These steps range from simple actions such as flushing lines to more complex actions like the replacement of service lines and household plumbing fixtures.
In Lawrence, we take water quality very seriously and proactively take measures to ensure your water is safe. Lawrence’s water treatment systems comply with the EPA’s Safe Water Drinking Act and we participate in a lead and copper sampling program. For many years, we’ve taken steps to enhance the water treatment process by adding a naturally-derived phosphate that adheres to NSF standards. This process inhibits corrosion and helps protect pipes and fixtures in homes and the distribution system. Additionally, in the 1980’s we replaced portions of the public service lines with lead-free systems. Our water quality technicians test water chemistry daily to ensure the water delivered to our residents is within all EPA-specified levels.
If you have questions about water quality or are concerned, contact the City of Lawrence Municipal Services & Operations Department by emailing leadandcopper@lawrenceks.org or visit the Municipal Services & Operations website. The City of Lawrence Utilities Division distributes water to 30,000 homes and businesses through nearly 500 miles of pipes in the city.
Helpful Links & Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
A Lead Service Line Inventory is a requirement of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR). It involves identifying and documenting all service lines in a water system, including lead service lines, to ensure the safety of drinking water.
Service lines run from the public water main to the customer’s home. The City owns and maintains the portion of the service line from the main to the meter. The customer owns and is responsible for the portion of the service line from the meter to the home and all of the fixtures within the home.
Lead service lines, which are pipes made of lead that connect buildings to a water system, pose a health risk, especially to young developing brains. Lead is a toxic metal, and its presence in drinking water can be harmful.
Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials containing lead corrode. This corrosion is more likely to occur when the water has high acidity or low mineral content. Lead service lines are a significant source of lead in the water, particularly in homes with such lines.
Drinking water provided by the City of Lawrence, does not contain lead when it leaves our water treatment plants. However, lead levels may be present in homes with lead service lines or fixtures.
Private homeowners can complete the Lead Service Line Inventory Survey. If your home has a lead or galvanized service line you may be eligible for a free test kit from the City of Lawrence.
The Lead Service Line Inventory is required under the revised Lead and Copper Rule. It ensures that all service lines, including lead service lines, are identified and documented. This information helps in managing and reducing the risk of lead exposure in drinking water.
The city is sending out the survey in phases, starting with homes that have the highest potential to contain lead service lines.
A lead service line refers to a portion of pipe made of lead that connects the water main to the building inlet. It can be owned by the water system, the property owner, or both. A galvanized service line is iron or steel piping that has been dipped in zinc to prevent corrosion and rusting. If a galvanized service line is downstream of a lead service line or a service line of unknown material, it is considered a lead service line.
The City of Lawrence has developed a Lead Service Line Inventory Survey to collect data required by the EPA LCRR. The survey allows customers to provide information about their service lines. If surveys are not completed or materials within customers’ homes are identified as “unknown,” further communication and verification may be required to determine the type of material.
If you are unable to determine the service line material, please complete the survey to the best of your ability or contact us at leadandcopper@lawrenceks.org.
The City of Lawrence is required to create a publicly available online inventory accessible. We must maintain the inventory and provide it to the relevant authorities during surveys or investigations. Water systems are also required to notify customers served by lead service lines or lines with unknown status within 30 days of completing the inventory. Annual public notification is required for customers with unknown service lines.
Yes, each community and non-transient non-community water system is responsible for completing a lead service line inventory.
The City of Lawrence must first complete the Lead Service Line Inventory to determine the prevalence of lead or galvanized service lines in the City. The city is actively pursuing state and federal money to replace lead service lines.
There are many devices that are certified for effective lead reduction, but devices that are not designed to remove lead will not work. Various types of water treatment devices are certified for household use. These devices can remove a broad range of contaminants from water (including lead) and minimize taste and odor issues. You should choose the type of filter that best fits your needs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant or nursing women and children under age six should use filtered tap water for drinking and cooking until all sources of lead in drinking water have been removed.
Certified Filters
• Any type of water treatment device that you choose should meet National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) standards.
• For lead removal, filters must be certified to meet NSF Standard 53. The filter package should specifically list the device as certified for removing the contaminant “lead.”
• View the NSF Contaminant Guide.
Types of Water Filters
• Various types of water treatment technologies are available including filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet treatment and softeners.
• Various styles of devices are available, including point-of-entry (POE) and point-of-use (POU).
• If the homeowner chooses to use a filter, the Lawrence Utilities Department recommends point-of-use filters, such as faucet mounts and pitcher-style as a good choice, instead of the point-of-entry type of filters.
• Visit the NSF Home Water Treatment Devices Guide for more information.
Water Filter Maintenance
• It is important to routinely replace filter cartridges according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Over time, a filter can accumulate metals and bacteria.
Water filters and cartridges can vary in their longevity (length of use) and replacement costs.
Yes, water main replacement or repair can have an effect, as well as starting a new service or resuming water service after it has been shut off. It is not uncommon to experience cloudy or discolored water temporarily after one of these occurrences. If any of these have occurred recently, we recommend that you take the following steps:
- Use the faucet closest to where the water initially enters your home.
- Remove the aerator (screen) from the faucet.
- Run the cold water for 3-5 minutes at a high flow rate from the faucet on the lowest level of the building. Avoid using hot water.
- Make sure the first faucet is clear before moving on to the next faucet.
- Move to the next faucet and repeat procedure until all faucets have been flushed (including the tub and shower).
- Remember to flush all faucets, including refrigerator water dispensers, ice makers, and water heaters.
- Clean the faucet aerators or replace those that are in poor condition. These are available at local hardware stores.
The City of Lawrence prepares an annual water quality report called a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for each of its public water systems. These reports can be viewed on our website and provide information about the water quality delivered to customers.
