Lead and Copper Water Service Line Inventory

The Federal Lead and Copper Rule requires that every Community public water system develop an inventory of the water service lines for all connections to the system and a plan to correct any lead lines that are  found. The service lines start at the water main and extend to the building (s) being served. The purpose of the inventory is to determine and replace any lead service connections. Replacement of lead service lines is the responsibility of the water system.

It is very important to note that the Champlain Water District, which provides the water to all customers on the Town water system adds orthophosphate to the treated water before distribution to the system.  This safely coats all pipe surfaces with a thin film that doesn’t allow the release of lead into the system.  The public water system is protected from lead in the water system through this practice. However, this operating practice does not relieve the impacted community water systems served by CWD from the need to replace any lead service lines.

Town Public Works staff has been working to complete the required Survey since the fall of 2022. A grant was obtained from the State to perform the inventory as well as to prepare a plan for any further actions that will be required. The completed results and a written plan to confirm any unknown or lead service lines was approved by the Selectboard on October 7, 2024 and submitted to the State on October 16, 2024. The Town opted to utilize an in-house approach rather than the services of an outside consultant. Work on the inventory is ongoing as more information is discovered and will be updated as new service lines are connected to the Town water system.

During the inventory, the Town discovered no lead service lines. However, portions of Fort Ethan Allen have waterline and service construction dating to the 1890s. The private section of the service line was observed visually by inspectors both recently and over the past ten years when new meters were installed. However, the Town portion of many of the service lines have to be classified as “unknown” since no records have been found and further investigation is required. In addition, some of the private service lines were identified as being galvanized piping. Although galvanized piping by itself does not contain lead, it can trap lead due to the rough surfaces in the interior of the piping.

EPA requires that each water system that has either “unknown” or galvanized piping requiring replacement officially notify the impacted user within 30 days of the inventory completion. The Town Public Works Department is in the process of sending out letters to the impacted users.

 The Town has three years to further investigate the “unknowns” or the piping will be considered to have lead. Most of the information will have to be found through excavation and observation of what is in the ground. The municipality is required to replace the galvanized service lines at no cost to the user.

Any questions relating to this work can be directed to the Public Works Office at (802) 878-1344 or LSLI@essex.org.

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