What is a service line and who owns it? 

Service lines are smaller pipes that carry water to your home or business from the City of Melbourne’s water main, which is typically located in or near the street. The portion of the service line from the water main to the meter that is located within the public right of way is owned and maintained by the City. The service line from the meter to the house or building is owned and maintained by the property owner.

Below is an example of a single-family service line connection. For some properties, the exact location of the meter and where responsibility shifts from the City of Melbourne to the property owner may be different.

 

What is a service line inventory?

The EPA recently directed all water utilities in the United States to prepare an inventory of all water service line materials, for both the customer-owned portion and the city-owned portions of the service line pipe. The EPA’s regulations are intended to improve public protection from the risk of lead exposure by identifying lead service lines and expediting their removal from drinking water systems nationwide.

The City of Melbourne is proactively developing a comprehensive inventory of our entire water distribution network, which encompasses more than 60,000 residential and commercial service lines. 

We are employing a range of methods to investigate and verify service line materials, including a review of historical records and field investigations from test pits.

I received a letter saying I have an unknown service line, what does that mean?

Under the new regulations, public water systems are required to notify customers served by a service line that has been classified as lead, galvanized-requiring replacement or unknown within 30 days of submitting their initial inventory. 

If you have received such a letter, it has been determined that we do not have sufficient information about the service line material that delivers water to your property at this time. This does not mean that we believe your service line is made of lead, but rather records do not exist, or have not been located yet, that confirm its material. We will continue efforts to identify and verify every service line throughout our entire water distribution system and update the inventory as data is collected. View the City of Melbourne's service line inventory map.

I received a letter saying I have a galvanized service line, what does that mean?

Galvanized service lines are steel pipes that have been dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. Galvanized piping was commonly installed in older homes and was used as an alternative to lead pipes for water supply lines.

Galvanized lines that are or were downstream of a lead source such as a lead service line can contribute to lead in drinking water by capturing lead particles released from upstream sources. The lead can be released into the drinking water if water quality changes or these pipes are disturbed.

Under the new regulations, galvanized service lines that are or may have previously been downstream of a lead service line are classified as "galvanized-requiring replacement." Public water systems are required to notify customers served by a service line that has been classified as lead, galvanized-requiring replacement or unknown.

I did not receive a letter, but someone I know (e.g., my neighbor) received one. Why is this?

It may be that the material used to construct your service line has already been determined as non-lead through the City’s records review or field verification process. You neighbor’s service line may still be classified as unknown or has been determined to be a lead or galvanized-requiring replacement service line.

Under the new regulations, public water systems are required to notify customers served by a service line that has been classified as lead, galvanized-requiring replacement or unknown. Letters to properties determined to have non-lead service lines are not required. You may look up your service line and your neighbors' service lines on the City of Melbourne's service line inventory map.

How will field investigations be done?

In some older areas, we have not been able to identify records that confirm the material used on both the customer-owned and city-owned portion of the service lines. This does not mean that we believe the pipes in these neighborhoods are made of lead, but rather that records do not exist, or have not been located yet, that confirm their material. In these areas we will be performing field investigations to determine the material of the service line pipes leading from the water main to the water meter and from the water meter to the home.

The City and/or its contractors will dig a small test pit approximately 1-2 feet on both sides of the potable water meter that is large enough to visually inspect the service pipe. This is typically 12-18 inches in both diameter and depth. The crews will use minimally invasive methods and restore the area to the same or better condition. The information gained from the field investigations will be used to further develop the service line inventory.

Why doesn’t the City know what my service line material is?

The revised rule requires the City to classify the entire service line as "unknown" if the material of at least one of the service line segments, the City-owned or the customer-owned, is unknown. Until now, we have not been required to have records on the customer’s side of the meter. We are actively working to obtain information about all service lines in our networks using a range of methods to investigate and verify service line materials, including a review of historical records and field investigations from test pits.

When will you know what my service line is made of?

The City is actively employing a range of methods to investigate and verify service line materials, including a review of historical records and field investigations from test pits. We will continue to update our inventory as information is collected and verified. This process will take several years to complete for the City’s entire water distribution service area. Please be assured that we are continuing to develop a full and complete inventory in accordance with the regulations.   

Can I check my service line material? 

Yes, you can contact a licensed plumber to help you determine the material of your service line and find other potential sources of lead inside your home. Knowing the material of your service line will give you peace of mind and let you know if you need to take action to protect your family from lead.

If you do take steps to identify your service line material, please contact the City of Melbourne at Utilities.Administration@mlbfl.org with that information. Your assistance will help us develop a full lead service line inventory — an important step in our continued commitment to protecting our community. 

If it is determined I have a lead service line, will the City of Melbourne replace it?

Melbourne is responsible for any lead service line from the water main to the meter located near the property line. Lead service lines from the meter to a home or building located on a customer’s property are the responsibility of the property owner (as shown in the diagram above). Please contact a licensed plumber for this work and notify us in advance if you plan to replace your service line.  We can be reached by email at Utilities.Administration@mlbfl.org. 

 

What is lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Lead can be found in air, soil, dust, food, and water.

How can I be exposed to lead?

The most common source of lead exposure is from paint in homes and buildings built before 1978. Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the main sources of exposure from lead in U.S. children. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978.

Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, lead also can be found in some household plumbing materials and in some older water service lines. 

Other sources of lead exposure include paint, ceramics, gasoline, batteries, and cosmetics. For more information, refer to “Learn About Lead” on the EPA’s website. 

What are the health effects of lead?

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.

How does lead get into drinking water? 

When water leaves the City’s water treatment plant, it is lead-free. The larger water mains in the street that transport water from the treatment plant are made mostly of iron or plastic and do not add lead to the drinking water.

Lead can enter the drinking water when service lines or plumbing materials that contain lead corrode. Lead was commonly used for service lines in the first half of the 20th century and was used in household plumbing fixtures and solder until lead solder was banned in the 1980s. Until legislation passed in 2014, “lead-free” plumbing could be up to 8 percent lead. Current standards for “lead-free” fixtures allow for no more than 0.25 percent of lead content. 

For more information, see the EPA's infographic regarding lead in drinking water. This infographic includes basic information about sources of lead in drinking water, suggestions for reducing exposure and information about replacing lead service lines.

How does Melbourne test for lead in drinking water?

The City of Melbourne has been in compliance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule and its revisions since the rule was first established in 1991. We regularly test the water at a selected number of homes/buildings located throughout the distribution system. If samples show lead at or above 15 micrograms per liter, we notify the customer and provide instructions on what can be done to limit lead exposure as required by FDEP.

If you have additional questions about Melbourne’s lead testing results and if you would like to learn more about your drinking water, visit our Water Quality page, which has information about where to access our test results and our Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

Can I test my water for lead?

You can have your water tested for lead. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in the water, the only way to determine the levels of lead in drinking water at your home/building is to have the water tested. We recommend that you only use a laboratory that is state-certified for testing lead in drinking water. A database of state-certified laboratories is available from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. If you prefer to view a list, this document contains a list of state-certified laboratories that was pulled from the FDEP database on June 11, 2024. You can contact these laboratories directly for information on costs, sampling kits and sampling procedures. 

Is my home at risk for lead plumbing?

Lead was commonly used for service lines in the first half of the 20th century and was used in household plumbing fixtures and solder until lead was banned in the 1980s. Until Federal legislation was passed in 2014, “lead-free” plumbing could contain up to 8 percent lead.  Current standards for “lead-free” fixtures allow for no more than 0.25 percent of lead content. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach lead into the water, especially hot water.

Galvanized pipes can also serve as a source of lead exposure. Galvanized service lines can capture lead released from upstream lead service lines, which can be released into the drinking water. The release can vary in concentration and can happen over a long period of time, even after the lead piping is removed.

Galvanized service lines that may have previously been downstream of a lead service line are classified as Galvanized-Requiring Replacement for inventory purposes. 

Galvanized plumbing inside homes or buildings that are downstream from lead sources, such as a lead service line, are also a source of potential lead exposure.

How can I minimize my exposure to lead in drinking water?

If you have lead service line or internal plumbing that contains lead, the best step you can take to reduce your potential exposure to lead is to have them replaced.

The following are other actions you can take to reduce your potential exposure to lead in drinking water:

• Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking, cooking, or preparing baby formula any time the water in the faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet for several minutes. Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through the system, you still need to flush the water in each faucet before using it for drinking, cooking, or preparing baby formula.
• Only use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Hot water may cause increases in lead concentrations at the tap and therefore should not be used to prepare food or baby formula. Boiling water does not remove or reduce lead from the water.
• Use a water filter that is certified to remove lead. Contact NSF International at 800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for more information on performance standards and certifications for water filters, or view the EPA's Consumer Tool for Identifying Point-of-Use and Pitcher Filters Certified to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water.
• Identify and replace faucets and/or fixtures that are not lead-free. Replace old faucets and fixtures with newer ones that are certified as lead-free. Visit nepis.epa.gov and search for lead-free certification for more information.
• Clean your faucet aerators. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also referred to as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and metals, including lead particles, can collect in the aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into the water.
• Have your child’s blood tested for lead. Contact your local health department or health care provider to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.

For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA's website or contact your health care provider.

Are there additional resources for information on lead?

Websites

• American Water Works Association
• CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• EPA Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
• Florida Department of Health
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection Source and Drinking Water Program
• NSF Product Standards

Hotlines

• National Lead Information Center: 800-424-LEAD
• EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791