Water Service Line Inventory

Proposed Upcoming Project Content for Lead and Copper Rule:

• Project Name: Water Service Line Inventory

• Project Summary: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new requirements under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) to strengthen protections from the health effects of lead in drinking water. One goal of these new requirements is to replace the remaining lead-containing water pipes across the country that were historically used when older homes were built. Bay Harbor Islands is excited to be part of this proactive, nationwide initiative. We are developing an inventory of the water service lines in our distribution system, from the water main in the street to the tap in your home, to determine if any lead-containing materials remain.

• Schedule: To learn more about the initial inventory, please contact us: Lead and Copper Rule Inquiry Form (Contact Us)

• Project Location: Town-wide

• Lead and Copper Rule Video: Watch the video below from the American Water Works Association to learn more: AWWA: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out (Video)

Frequently Asked Questions

To better inform residents and property owners, we recommend adding a designated FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section to address common concerns regarding the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and water service line replacements:

What is a water service line and who owns it?

Water service lines are underground pipes that connect private properties to the Town’s water main and deliver water to customers. Bay Harbor Islands owns the portion of the water service line from the water main to the water meter, and the property owners own the portion of the water service line from their water meter to their tap. If you live in an apartment building or condominium, ownership of water service lines is typically split between the building owner and the tenant. The pipes inside an individual unit and immediately outside are usually the tenant’s responsibility, while the pipes in public areas are the building owner’s responsibility. Most apartment and condominiums have detailed schematics that show which pipes are owned by whom.

What is a Lead Service Line?

A Lead Service Line is a water service line that is completely or partially made of lead components, such as the pipes that connect to your house, lead solder (commonly used to connect copper piping) and brass fixtures on water meters, faucets, valves, and fittings. A Lead Service Line may be owned by the water system, owned by the property owner, or both.

Why is this happening?

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the Lead and Copper Rule, which is a series of regulations to protect public health by reducing the potential for lead exposure through drinking water. The revisions added new protective measures to reduce lead exposure from the nation’s public water systems and from plumbing in private homes and businesses.

Who should be concerned about Lead Service Lines?

Lead is not found in the drinking water that the Town’s delivers to its customers, but it can, although rarely, leach into water from any Lead Service Lines and connections, or from household pluming materials, that contain lead. The EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act of 1986 prohibited the use of pipe, solder, and flux that were not “lead-free” and directed states to enforce this provision through state or local plumbing codes. Florida implemented this provision in the Florida Administrative Code on January 18, 1989 with a two-year implementation period. As a result, homes built in or after 1991 are far less likely to have lead pipes or lead solder, but there is a possibility that lead-containing service lines or connections remain in some portions of the water system.

How do I know if there is lead in my plumbing or my service line?

There are a few options:

• Contact a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made of lead.

• Perform a Materials Verification Test on your water service line where it connects to the water meter. Check out the EPA’s Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead (https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/protect-your-tap-quick-check-lead) online tool for a step by-step guide to help identify lead pipes.

• Purchase a lead test kit at a hardware or home improvement store. Look for an EPA recognized kit.

What is the concentration of lead in my water and how can I get it tested?

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Town Water Department is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. Customers who wish to have their water sampled can hire a private laboratory. For a list of laboratories approved for drinking water analysis, go to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) website (https://floridadep.gov/dear/florida-dep-laboratory/content/nelap-certified-laboratory-search) and search under "NELAP Certified Laboratory Search." Depending on how many contaminants you wish to test for, a water test can cost from $15 to hundreds of dollars. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) can give you information on testing methods.

My water was tested and the lead level was above the 15µg/L Action Level. What should I do?

You should stop using the water immediately and find an alternate source of water until the issue is resolved. Contact a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main is made from lead. EPA recommends you also contact your local water system and health department.

What can I do to protect myself and reduce my exposure to lead in drinking water?

Learn about lead in drinking water and how to limit your exposure by visiting resources listed at www.bayharborislands-fl.gov. Some steps you can take at home include:

• Run your water to flush out lead. If water hasn’t been used in several hours, run water for 15 to 30 seconds or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking. This helps flush lead-containing water from the interior plumbing.

• Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap, lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.

• Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.

1. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. Use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead, which is effective in reducing lead exposure.

• Test your water for lead. If you think you may have elevated lead levels in your home drinking water, have it tested. For a list of laboratories approved for drinking water analysis, go to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) website and search under "NELAP Certified Laboratory Search.” Depending on how many contaminants you wish to test for, a water test can cost from $15 to hundreds of dollars. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1- 800-426-4791 for more information.

• Clean your aerator. Clean your faucet aerator to get rid of sediment, debris, and possible lead particles.

• Use your filter properly. If you use a filter, make sure you use a filter certified to remove lead. Read the directions to learn how to properly install and use your cartridge and when to replace it. EPA has developed a consumer tool to identify point-of-use drinking water filters certified to reduce lead at: EPA Tool for Identifying Point of Use (POU) Drinking Water Filters (https://www.epa.gov/water-research/consumer-tool-identifying-pou-drinking-water-filters-certified-reduce-lead).

What level of lead is safe?

There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.

What are the health effects of lead in drinking water?

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.

What is the Town doing to protect my drinking water?

The Town purchases its drinking water from the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Division (WASD). To ensure the safety of drinking water supplied to residents of the Town, Miami-Dade WASD personnel routinely monitor for contaminants in drinking water according to federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Highly trained microbiologists, chemists, and water treatment specialists collect and analyze water samples regularly at the treatment facilities, sample sites throughout the service area, and even customers’ homes.

Where does lead come from and what causes elevated levels of lead in drinking water?

Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Because lead pipes were once allowed in plumbing systems, drinking water may be a source of lead exposure. The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil, and some plumbing materials. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, food, and cosmetics.

Brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute lead to drinking water. The law currently establishes the definition for “lead-free” as the weighted average of 0.25% lead calculated across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture and 0.2% lead for solder and flux.

The water pumped from the Biscayne Aquifer and provided to the Town’s water customers does not contain lead. Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes [or service lines], faucets, and fixtures. When water is in contact for several hours with pipes or plumbing that contains lead, the lead may enter the drinking water. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have plumbing containing lead. New homes may also have lead; even “lead-free” plumbing may contain some lead. Among homes without Lead Service Lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.

What is the cost of service line replacement?

The service line replacement cost is very site specific but can range anywhere from $75 to $225 per foot of service line. The actual cost of replacement reflects a number of factors including the length of the service line (homes set further back from the road tend to pay higher amounts because they have longer lines), the technique used to install the new service line, the materials used, and the built environment where the service line is located.

Who is responsible for paying for replacing the service line?

Lead services lines on a customer’s property are the responsibility of the property owner to replace at their expense. The Town strongly advises that you contact a licensed plumber for work on your service line.

Where can I find more information?

For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead, visit the FDEP’s lead in drinking water website at https://floridadep.gov/water/source-drinking-water/content/monitoring-lead-and-copper-florida-drinking-water, or contact your health care provider.