EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) Project
The State of North Dakota is working to "get the lead out" of the state's drinking water pipes. Lead in water infrastructure can be harmful and this inventory, required by new U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules will help Mandan access funding for the replacement of lead water lines in the future. (See We Need Your Help to 'Get the Lead Out' from Apr. 1, 2024 for the City's first communication on the topic)
WHAT IS A SERVICE LINE? A service line is the pipe connecting the water main to the interior plumbing in a building. The entire service line is owned by the property owner.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- A service line is unknown if either side of the line (water main to curb stop, or curb stop to home) is unknown. For example, a resident's service line material is unknown from the water main to the curb stop, then the whole service line must be classified as unknown (even if the resident submitted a survey to the City that identified their service line material inside the home, that only counts as curb stop to come).
- This is the first year that notification is required, and it is an annual requirement going forward, per EPA and North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality(NDDEQ).
- The city will be working on identifying service lines over the coming years:
- There are approximately 7,850 service lines in the city of Mandan, of those:
- 58 are known lead lines
- about 4,500 are unknown material lines
- 3,300 are known nonlead material lines
- Per the EPA's new Lead & Copper Rules, every public water system is required to:
- have a lead service line replacement program in place by 2027
- Replace all lead service lines by 2037 (at a rate of 10% per year starting no later than 2027)
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO REDUCE LEAD IN DRINKING WATER. Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water.
- Clean your aerator. Regularly remove & clean your faucet's screen (aka aerator). Sediment, debris and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
- Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.
- Run Your Water to Flush out Lead. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The more time water has been sitting in pipes providing water to your home, the more lead it may contain. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home.
- Should you want to sample the tap at this location for lead because you have received a notice, contact your local public water system for assistance in selection of a certified laboratory (see Additional Services for Testing Lines for Lead sidebar for contact info). Supplies will be sent directly to your location. There may be a cost to you for this sampling. Carefully read the instructions provided with the test kit. Different kits have different procedures. The sample must be taken from a kitchen or bathroom tap that is used daily. The test requires a sample of water that has been sitting in the household plumbing for no less than six (6) but no more than 18 hours. Once the sample is collected, you will promptly ship the sample back to the laboratory. The laboratory will then send the sample results directly to you. For information on sources of lead that include service lines and interior plumbing, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#getinfo
- Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, visit EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/water-research/consumer-tool-identifying-point-use-and-pitcher-filters-certified-reduce-lead.
- Consider consulting your healthcare provider. If you are concerned about the health effects of lead, a family doctor or pediatrician can determine which actions are necessary, whether it is necessary to perform a blood test for lead and can provide more information about your health. For more information and links to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC’s website, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.
Note: The City of Mandan is working with engineering consultant AE2S to conduct the lead and copper inventory. Funding for this project is provided through a contractual agreement between the NDDEQ Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and AE2S.