Baltimore County residents should check their mailboxes to see whether they’ve received instructions on how to check what material makes up their water service lines.
The Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation is mailing notifications to water customers whose service lines need or may need to be replaced under the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule.
Notifications are only being mailed to addresses where water service lines are known to require replacement or whose status are still unknown.
“Residents deserve certainty,” said Lauren Buckler, Baltimore County’s Director of Public Works and Transportation. “If your line is unknown, let us help you get peace of mind.”
As part of the DPWT’s Lead Reduction Program, the department will replace all water service lines that the EPA requires to be replaced – at no cost to water customers.
According to county officials, lead water service lines are uncommon in Baltimore County. More than 99% of the notifications are being sent to customers with unidentified lines.
Residents can submit a self-reporting survey by locating their water service line and conducting a scratch and magnet test.
Residents can also schedule for a member of the Lead Reduction Program team to come out and perform a free in-home inspection by calling 410-887-1368 or emailing waterserviceline@baltimorecountymd.gov.
If lines cannot be identified from inside the house, residents can allow DPWT to dig a small test pit near the home’s exterior water meter. The county expects those test pit investigations to begin this fall.
Under a partnership with the Lead Reduction Program, plumbing, lead inspection, and home inspection companies are also working to identify water service line materials when they make their normal house calls.
The partnership compensates these professionals when they submit surveys on behalf of their customers. This is again free of charge to the customer.
Residents can ask their plumbers and inspectors whether they participate in the Service Line Identification Partnership.
Professionals can also contact the Lead Reduction Program if they are interested in participating.
For more information, call 410-887-1368, email waterserviceline@baltimorecountymd.gov, or visit baltimorecountymd.gov/waterserviceline
