by Holley Salmi, Public affairs Project Manager

As community leaders, you’ve likely heard about the latest Lead and Copper Rule, service line inventories, and the expenses tied to replacing lines, but what does it all actually mean? It can seem complex and maybe even overwhelming, but let’s break it down and show how we can help you navigate every step of the process. 

The why behind it all 

It started with the Lead and Copper Rule introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991. The rule set standards for water quality in terms of lead and copper levels and evaluated the risk of exposure through drinking water. From the beginning, the rule was robust. It established testing and treatment requirements to ensure that if elevated levels of lead or copper were detected in a public water supply, corrective actions would be taken. 

Several years ago, the rule was revisited after a crisis brought national attention to water quality issues in drinking water. The EPA reexamined the Lead and Copper Rule, this time with a focus on the water lines that link city water mains to individual homes and businesses. These water service lines are often the homeowner’s or business owner’s responsibility, making it difficult for public agencies to track or control the materials used. Using either lead or galvanized steel materials for water connections can potentially contaminate water with lead particles. 

By 1987, lead water service lines were no longer being installed at new homes or businesses nationwide, though some communities phased out the material earlier than others. Because of this, structures built prior to 1987 were the focus of this new rulemaking effort. To evaluate potential issues, the latest Lead and Copper Rule requires all water systems to create an inventory of the materials used in both public and private service lines to the best of their ability. A number of communities lack strong records of line material, especially for private properties. Therefore, this inventory process can pose a significant undertaking. 

The revised rule sets a series of deadlines. By October 2024, systems were required to provide an inventory of all water service lines to include the current and past material of each line. Any line identified as lead, galvanized pipes contaminated by lead, or galvanized lines for which lead contamination cannot be ruled out, must be replaced. By November 2027, each system must provide a final baseline inventory and a detailed replacement plan, including identified funding sources. All potentially lead-contaminated water service lines must be replaced with safer material by 2037. Additionally, beginning in 2029, water systems must continue to update their water service line inventory annually.  

Knowing this could create a massive financial commitment for communities, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021 and allocated $15 billion specifically for lead service line replacements. This funding, issued through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, is distributed to states to help communities meet the requirements. Other types of federal funding can also be leveraged for this program. 

Supporting communities in the process 

Inventorying service lines presents major challenges for both water systems and private property owners. What resources are available to help water systems confirm public infrastructure material? How will untrained property owners know how to identify the materials used in their lines? Who will pay for any necessary line replacements?  

While this effort may seem daunting to both water systems and private property owners, it’s where our team’s expertise truly shines. By applying our skills in community engagement, construction administration, funding, and technology, we’ve already helped numerous communities take their first steps in compiling comprehensive inventory systems or rolling out full-scale replacement programs.  

Our team is well-versed in the complexities of water service line inventories and replacement programs. Below are two case studies: One that demonstrates how we’ve supported small, rural communities with their inventories, and another that shows how we’re assisting a larger metropolitan area as they move into a replacement program.  

Small-town successes 

Through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), our team worked with 41 Kansas communities to inventory their public and private water service lines, including a comprehensive picture of private-side connections. This provided each community with a solid foundation for compliance and planning. 

We worked closely with water systems in these communities to develop comprehensive and accurate lead service line inventories. The first step was to leverage all existing records that identified both public and private line materials. When available, we helped water systems review plan sets, building permits, and tap records. Secondly, we helped them engage directly with their customers to identify the materials used in their specific service lines.  

Tapping into our expertise in community engagement, we developed a comprehensive outreach campaign to inform the public about the purpose of the inventory, explain how their participation was essential to its success, and provide the simple tools needed to identify and report their private line material. The campaign included mailed notices, emails, social media posts, flyers, online surveys, phone calls, door-to-door outreach, and educational videos—all created to guide property owners through the identification process. Customer survey responses were tracked in a geographic information system (GIS) database by service address to ensure thorough data gathering, with exportable features for seamless regulatory reporting.   

We started simple. Knowing not all property owners would know where to find their incoming water line, we created and distributed a five-question survey (both printed and electronically) showing property owners where to locate the private water line in their home or business. From there, we provided simple testing options to help them identify pipe materials . An information sheet explained how to use household items such as a coin or key to expose the surface of the pipe and attach a magnet. The magnet would stick to galvanized steel, but not to lead, copper, or plastic. Participants could also upload photos of their test results for expert review and confirmation and had the option to request in-person assistance from their water system. The latter option was popular among residents with mobility challenges. In communities with diverse demographics, we ensured materials were available in multiple languages. 

To track all the incoming data, KDHE provided each community with a standardized spreadsheet to record their findings. The combination of GIS data, our robust community engagement plan, and the public’s assistance provided a strong baseline for each system’s lead service line inventory.

While we continue to help new communities meet their initial inventory requirements, we’re also helping communities verify their inventories where materials remain unknown. A final baseline inventory must be submitted by the end of 2027.  

To help meet this deadline, our team develops customized standard operating procedures (SOPs) tailored to each system’s size, technology, and existing practices. These SOPs allow water systems to gather missing data efficiently without launching costly initiatives. For example, if an upcoming construction project is planned near a service line with unknown material or the water system is servicing a property, technicians can collect the missing data while the pipes are exposed.  

Once the inventory is complete, our team will assist in developing comprehensive replacement plans for lead-contaminated lines. This will include identifying funding options to best meet the needs of individual Kansas communities. 

Replacements in action 

Our team also has a proven track record of helping communities move from planning to action, taking on lead service line replacements at scale. One example is Lincoln, Nebraska, where we’re supporting a major initiative to replace thousands of lead-contaminated lines.  

Lincoln Water System maintains fairly comprehensive tap records and performed their own service line inventory in 2024. This resulted in the identification of an estimated 5,000 lines needing replacement across the city. Federal guidelines require that 10% of all identified service lines be replaced each year from 2027 to 2037.  

We helped Lincoln Water System develop and launch a pilot program in 2024, with a goal of completing 200 line replacements in the first year and scaling up to 500 replacements annually in the following years to meet the latest  requirements for their system. We are providing program management services for the replacement process, ensuring construction quality and compliance with the often complicated federal regulatory and funding requirements. Financially, State Revolving Loan Funds designated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law help make the replacements viable. The City also continues to budget for the remaining costs in its capital improvement program.  

Lincoln’s program is currently voluntary for homeowners. Therefore, a key goal is obtaining property owner permission to enable the water system to replace contaminated private lines. In some circumstances, this has meant overcoming a limited public understanding of the process, scheduling conflicts, and language barriers, as well as identifying lines in vacant homes. Once again, we leveraged our public education and program participant outreach expertise to communicate in clear, accessible formats to help overcome these barriers, resulting in an impressive 95% consent rate in the pilot year of the program. 

With replacements underway, our construction services team is providing construction oversight and administration. They ensure the project meets all federal requirements and define standard operating procedures to help the system address the unique complexities found underground at each property. Our customized, GIS-based software solution captures near real-time construction information in a format that is simple for contractors to use in the field. Construction-specific details, including before and after site photos, line measurements, cost estimates, and more are entered into the GIS system. This software not only aids the contractor and construction manager but also provides the foundation for an exportable replacement inventory that meets EPA requirements. We then move the replacements to the reimbursement request phase, preparing property-specific invoicing documentation for funding agency review. 

Federal funding can be an attractive option for replacements, covering up to half of project costs. It also comes with strict reporting and documentation requirements that can be challenging to navigate. Our dedicated funding specialists and project managers help communities gather and document appropriately all necessary data to achieve smooth reimbursements. 

Looking ahead 

In addition to the replacement requirements coming after 2027, public water systems will also be subject to stricter water quality monitoring requirements after that date, especially where lead-contaminated service lines have been identified but not yet replaced. Adopting a proactive strategy for verifying inventory and replacing lead-contaminated lines can help ease this additional regulatory burden.  

We want to continue sharing our hands-on expertise with other communities in need, helping them improve public health and the quality of life for their residents—one water line at a time. To learn more about our team and what we can do, please reach out to me at hsalmi@jeo.com.