Public water systems to conduct service line inventories

Under recent revisions to lead and copper rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, all community public water systems and non-transient, non-community public water systems in Massachusetts must develop and submit a service line inventory to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection by Oct. 16.

The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions require service line inventories to include identification of lead service lines. The gathered data is expected to help public water systems remove all lead service lines as soon as possible.

Lead is a health hazard that can cause brain and nervous system damage, hearing and speech problems, learning and behavioral problems, and slowed growth and development. It is especially harmful to infants, children and pregnant women.

The MassDEP has been working to remediate lead in service lines and to support public water systems to meet MassDEP’s public health protection goals. Its Lead Service Line Replacement Program website highlights grant programs and technical assistance available to qualifying public water systems through the State Revolving Fund and the following opportunities:
• Service Lines Inventory and Lead Service Line Replacement Plan Grant Program
• Lead Service Line Planning Program Assistance for Small Community Water Systems and Non-Transient Non-Community Systems
• Interest-free loans for lead service line replacement projects
• Free Pilot Program for School and Early Education and Care Facilities Testing Ahead of Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

The Lead Service Line Replacement Program website has details about eligible projects and applicants for each of these programs.

Questions on the service line inventory can be sent to the MassDEP Drinking Water Program at program.director-dwp@mass.gov.

For more information, visit the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions website or download the Service Line Inventory and Lead Service Line Replacement Plan Technical Assistance Program flier.