Lead Service Line Inventory

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its Lead and Copper Rule Revisions which includes the Lead Service Line Inventory requirement.  This initiative requires public water systems, including the City of Snohomish, to inventory all water service lines and the materials they are made of all the way from the main to the meter (public side) and meter to the building (private side).  This mandate aims to help safeguard public health by ensuring that water systems across the United States develop and maintain comprehensive inventories of service line materials. The EPA requires the inventory to be complete by October 16, 2024.

What is the City Doing to Comply with this Mandate? 

We take water quality seriously and we’re working diligently to meet the EPA's requirements. Our work includes creating an inventory of City and customer side water lines and the materials they are made of.

We’re scouring our records:  historical standards, issued permits, capital project records, and reviewing past maintenance work orders to help with this.  We have identified 97% of the city-owned (public) portion of the service line as being “not lead”. Historically, water purveyors have not been responsible for the customer’s (private) service line.   This project is unique in that we need to identify the materials used from the meter to the building (private side) as well. Through our records search, we’ve identified the material used for about 50% of the private side service lines.  If you know what your water line is made of, please let us know.  We need your help.

The good news is our existing data shows that we’ll likely find little, or no lead service lines, either on the city or the customer side.

What will the Inventory Database Include?

The inventory must include ALL service lines regardless of their actual or intended use i.e.: dedicated irrigation lines. Service line materials must be identified in one of four categories: 

  • lead
  • galvanized steel requiring replacement
  • non-lead
  • unknown

Any lead or galvanized service lines must include a street address. In addition it is recommended that the inventory include a detailed location description, sub-classifications for service line materials such as poly (plastic) or copper, and documentation of any other service line characteristics.

Service Line Graphic

Is there lead in our drinking water?

Hundreds of water samples are collected annually at the water source, during treatment and in the distribution system in order to determine the presence of any radioactive, biological, inorganic, volatile organic or synthetic organic contaminants. 

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and interior plumbing. Lead and copper can leach into a water system from the piping or the fixtures (faucets). Homes built or plumbed with copper pipe before the 1985 lead solder ban, may have used lead-based solder. 

The City is required to monitor for the presence of lead and copper at household taps every three years. Snohomish in conjunction with the City of Everett participate in a regional monitoring program. Ongoing testing shows that the City of Snohomish’s drinking water meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards for lead and copper. For additional information on where our water comes from and testing results see the link below. 

What can you do?

Provide verification of your service line material here.

We need your help to identify the material for the remaining water service lines from the meter to the building (private side). 

If you know your water service line material please request and complete a Pipe Identification Form from the City:

You can drop the form off in person at City Hall (116 Union Avenue) either in the lobby or utility payment drop box in the north driveway. 

 The City of Snohomish is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. 

Elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Environmental Protection Agency website. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

More information: