Service Line Discovery Program

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a national regulation known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which mandate more specific monitoring, testing, and reporting parameters to address health risks from lead exposure in drinking water. The LCRR affect all water utilities across the country, requiring them for the first time to develop a comprehensive water service line material inventory and make the results publicly available.

The Town of Christiansburg has been in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule since it was implemented, and we are committed to meeting the new requirements of the LCRR through our Service Line Discovery Program.

We want to assure our customers that there are no known lead service lines in the Town and the likelihood of finding lead piping in our water distribution is low since Virginia banned their use in 1979.

What is a Service Line?

A service line is an underground water pipe that connects your home to the public water main, delivering water to faucets, bathtubs, showers, and other fixtures. The Town is responsible for the utility side as indicated in the graphic below, and property owners are responsible for the customer portion.

About the Service Line Discovery Program

To comply with the LCRR, the Town of Christiansburg has launched the Service Line Discovery Program, which aims to proactively inform and engage our customers through every step of the process.

The main goal of the program is to establish a complete service line material inventory. To date, the Town has not found evidence of lead service lines in the community, and lead has not been allowed as a piping material since 1979. However, there are still some properties in the Town listed as having service lines made of an unknown material. As a result, we are actively evaluating unknown service lines in our water system to verify the material for inclusion in the inventory.

The verification of unknown service lines is being conducted via an extensive records review and through field verifications. Customers with an unknown service line may receive further communications from the Town notifying them of a service line verification taking place on their property. Customers do not have to be home for the inspection and there will be no disturbance to private property.

The service line inventory will be made available to all customers on this webpage once it is complete.

Resources

Stay informed about the Town of Christiansburg Service Line Discovery Program and download the resources you need to guide you through the process.

FAQs

What is the Town of Christiansburg’s Service Line Discovery Program?

The Service Line Discovery Program aims to proactively comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The revised rule requires all water systems in the U.S., including the Town, to submit an inventory of the water service lines by Oct. 16, 2024, carry out water sampling, and provide customers with public education materials.

What is a water service line?

A service line is the underground pipe that connects your home to the water main. Water supplied by the Town enters your home through the service line.

Illustration of a home water main

Where can I locate my service line?

It can typically be seen where it enters your home in the basement or crawl space.

Do the revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule mean I have lead pipes?

No. A primary purpose of the LCRR is simply to identify the material of all water service lines to enhance customer awareness. Identifying out-of-date materials, including lead, is the first step toward eliminating them from the distribution system.

Will this program affect my water bill?

No. The program does not directly affect the cost of your water bill.

Where can I find more information regarding the Service Line Discovery Program?

All information can be found on the program webpage at www.christiansburg.org/SLDiscovery.

How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead in drinking water originates from lead-based plumbing materials. Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials containing lead corrode over time. These materials include pipes made of lead, lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, and brass faucets. If present, lead service lines are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. In Virginia, these materials are unlikely to be found in homes built after 1979. Service line inventory records show there are no known lead service lines in the Town’s water system. At this time, the Town has not encountered lead service lines in our system through our Service Line Discovery Program.

What does the Town do to limit lead in drinking water?

Our water is carefully treated to minimize the possibility of lead entering the drinking water. Lead occurs in drinking water through leaching from lead-containing pipe, faucets, and solder sometimes found in the plumbing of older buildings. If you’re concerned about lead in drinking water, please contact the Town for more information on how to have your water tested.

What has the Town done to identify service line materials for the inventory?

The Town has reviewed its records related to service lines and field-verified service line materials at numerous sites throughout the system, following regulatory requirements of the LCRR for inclusion in the inventory. The Town continues to examine and track service line materials throughout the system to meet the inventory submission deadline of October 2024.

Service Line Discovery Program

What is a Service Line?

About the Service Line Discovery Program

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