Understanding Your Water Service Line Notification Letter

Why did I receive a letter about my service line?

New federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, specifically the Lead and Copper Rule Revised, require the Town of Brownsburg to identify and document materials used in drinking water pipes. Homeowners must be notified if their water service lines are made of lead (Pb), galvanized steel that is or was downstream of lead, or unknown materials. These letters are intended to inform homeowners about the health risks associated with lead exposure, share simple precautions to minimize risks and provide information on where to find more details about lead safety.

The letter does not mean that lead is present in your drinking water. The EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) require all public water systems to send this notification to customers annually starting this fall. New customers will also receive a copy when they begin service. You will continue to receive a copy of this letter each year until your service line is replaced, or if it is unknown, until the material is confirmed to be non-lead.

Is my water safe to drink?

Yes. The Town of Brownsburg Water Utilities Department treats, tests, and distributes safe drinking water to you and the community. Water provided by the Town of Brownsburg is lead (Pb)-free when it leaves our treatment plants, and our water mains (the pipes that distribute water throughout the community) are not made of lead. The Town of Brownsburg manages water quality at each treatment facility to help prevent corrosion throughout the system and in privately-owned service lines and plumbing.

We regularly test our water for lead and other contaminants in accordance with EPA and IDEM standards. Our water consistently meets or exceeds all federal and state safety standards, and to our knowledge and according to records in the past 15 years, lead has not exceeded the EPA's action level of 15 ppb (parts per billion). View the Town's latest Water Quality Report.

How can lead get into drinking water?

Drinking water that leaves our treatment facilities does not contain lead, but customers’ lead service lines or interior plumbing systems could be adding lead to drinking water. The Town of Brownsburg routinely tests water at multiple sites throughout the entire water distribution system to confirm the water meets all state and federal requirements, including lead and copper limits. However, like all public water systems across the United States right now, we are diligently working to find and remove private and public lead service lines to the home that could pose any health risk to our community.

Are all homes at risk?

No. We are particularly concerned about water service lines made of lead or galvanized steel that may be connected to a lead connector, commonly known as a 'gooseneck.' This short, flexible piece of lead pipe is often used to connect service lines to water mains. While many homes and non-residential buildings we serve do not have these connections, there is a possibility that several of our customers do. We estimate that approximately 2,160 customers may be affected.

What exactly is a water service line?

The water service line is the pipe that connects a home or other types of buildings to the Town-owned water distribution system. Town water mains typically run underneath streets and alleys or off to the side of the public road right-of-way. The water mains feed individual service lines that run to a meter pit where the water meter is housed below ground. The service line then continues from the meter pit to the building and connects to the interior plumbing. Customer service lines are commonly made of copper, PVC or other types of plastic, galvanized steel, and lead.

Who owns and maintains water service lines?

When a service line breaks, it is the property owner's responsibility to have it fixed or replaced. The property owner owns the water service line from the water meter to their building, and Town of Brownsburg owns the meter pit and water meter it runs through.

How can I find out if my service line contains lead?

The Town of Brownsburg is in the process of building an inventory of all water service lines connected to its system in accordance with new EPA Lead and Copper rules. This includes researching historical records, building statistical models to predict where lead may be found, and conducting on-site investigations to confirm the presence or absence of lead.

If you are anxious about having lead, especially in an older home constructed prior to 1985, you may consider hiring a plumber to complete an inspection. If you do this, please ask the plumber to contact us so that we can obtain a report to update our inventory.

If I have an Unknown service line, how will Town of Brownsburg determine its material?

If there are no records to indicate the material of your service line, it will be listed as 'Unknown,' in which case the Town of Brownsburg will continue its efforts over the next several years to determine the material. This could include inspecting pipes where they can be accessed or hydro-excavating small holes in the ground to visually inspect the service line.

You, as a customer, can also help us determine if it is possible to see the service line entering your building through a wall or crawl space. If you can determine the service line's material, please report it to Water Superintendent Frank Monts via email or by phone at (317) 858-4147.

Can I check for lead myself?

You may be able to check the section of pipe that runs from the meter pit into your home or business. Look for the water pipe where it enters the building through the floor, a wall, or a crawl space. Using a magnet and a metal tool you can scratch with, like a screwdriver or an old key, you can check for lead and galvanized steel yourself. If you are able to inspect and test the pipe, we recommend taking a photo, and please be sure to help us update our inventory by reporting it to us. We really appreciate your help!

How to check for lead and galvanized steel pipe

Find a magnet and an old key or tool to scratch the pipe where it enters the building. You may need a flashlight too.

If you can access the pipe where it enters the home or building, check to see if the magnet sticks to the pipe. If it does, the pipe is likely galvanized steel and is not lead. If the magnet doesn't stick, scratch the pipe if it is not obviously plastic or copper. Paint and grime may need to be scraped away to tell what is underneath. If you can identify the material, please share that with us! Contact us to report it using our simple online form.

How does Town of Brownsburg prevent lead contamination?

We use phosphate as a corrosion control additive. Phosphate controls the water's pH levels, reducing its corrosiveness. This process prevents metals, such as lead, from leaching into the water from pipes. Our corrosion control program has proven to be highly effective in keeping your drinking water safe, even in areas with older service lines.

What exactly does phosphate do to the water?

Phosphate increases the pH of the water, making it less acidic and less likely to dissolve metals like lead from pipes. By neutralizing the acidity, phosphate creates a protective environment inside the pipes, significantly reducing the risk of lead entering the water.

Can I have my water tested?

Yes, you can request to have your water tested through the Hendricks County Board of Health at (317) 745-9217, or contact a certified lab, such as Delta Water Management Group here in Brownsburg, or another IDEM certified lab. However, it is important to understand that a negative test does not necessarily confirm your water service line is 'Non-Lead' because of treatment Town of Brownsburg provides to help prevent pipe corrosion.

How do I protect myself from lead?

If you have a service line made of lead or galvanized steel requiring replacement, or if you want to take extra measure to protect yourself in the event you have any lead in your interior plumbing and fixtures, here are simple measure that can be taken to reduce your risk.

Replace plumbing materials containing lead and safely remove lead paint. Also consider replacing brass faucets, fittings, and valves in your building plumbing that contain lead. If you believe you have lead paint, hire a professional to safely remove it.
Run the cold water to flush out lead. The longer the water sits on leaded plumbing, the more lead it may contain. Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in the faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. For more detailed instructions on flushing, please refer to EPA guidance online.
Use cold, flushed water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Lead can dissolve into hot water more easily than cold water. Note that boiling water does not remove lead.
Remove and clean aerators/screens on plumbing fixtures. Over time, lead sediment can collect in aerator screens. Remove and clean aerators screens at least twice a year by soaking the screen in vinegar and scrubbing it with a toothbrush.
Test your water for lead. State-approved commercial labs provide water testing kits for lead. Like lead swabs, water testing may help you identify sources of lead in your building plumbing.
Get your child tested to determine lead levels in their blood. A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. State or county health departments can also provide information about how you can have your child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends public heath actions when the level of lead in a child's blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter or more. For more information, visit the CDC's website online.
Purchase a water filter. Some water filters are designed to remove lead from your tap water. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead.

If I learned that my service line is not lead, is there anything else I need to worry about?

If you or a plumber checked the pipe entering your home or business, and its not lead, your service line may be fine. This provides one point of inspection. EPA recommends and in the future may require water systems to inspect two points along each service line if there are no records to indicate the material. Town of Brownsburg may have to confirm the material of pipe that connects the meter pit to the water main.

If Town of Brownsburg determines our home or business has a lead service line or galvanized line requiring replacement, will it be replaced?

Yes, but this may not happen right away. Given the number of service lines that may require replacement in our system, it will take several years to plan and complete this work. The EPA has proposed requiring all public water systems ensure these service lines are replaced no later than 2037.