Help Fairfax Water identify Lead Lines

In 2021 the U.S. EPA revised  the Lead and Copper Rule to mandate that all water utilities plan to test for lead more frequently at schools and childcares, develop an inventory of the water service lines within their system, and create a plan to replace lead service lines if they are found. This fall is the deadline for the lead service line inventory. Fairfax Water has developed the “Lead Free Fairfax program” to comply with these requirements and keep the Fairfax community safe from lead in drinking water.  

Lead service lines are typically owned by both the water utility and the property owner. It is common that utilities only own the portion of the service line until it reaches the property line. In most instances Fairfax Water owns the portion of the lateral service line up to and including the water meter which is usually at the property edge. The property owner owns the portion of the service line after the meter as well as the home’s internal plumbing. However, most houses in Fairfax County built between 1971 and 1980 were equipped with an inside water meter, which is connected to a remote register on the exterior of the house. For more information read the Fairfax Water Lead and Copper Rule fact sheet.Fairfax Water Lead and Copper Rule fact sheet. 

Fairfax Water is updating its inventory of service line materials and working to identify any lead service lines within its water system. The inventory will be complete by October 2024 as required by the Lead and Copper rule regulations. To ensure customer safety, Fairfax Water uses corrosion control treatments to prevent lead from leaching into water from any lead containing elements in the distribution system or property owner plumbing.  

Much of the data collected  by Fairfax Water about the materials in the distribution system is based on the historical records and not confirmed or may need to be updated. Since a portion of the service line is not owned by Fairfax Water, they are trying to reach out to their customers to identify and report their service line material for the inventory.

To  do your part, go to the Fairfax Water inventory map and enter your address. See what information they have. Then you can update the information, or simply go to the shut off valve and scan the QR code with your smart phone or you can follow this link to fill out the inventory online LSLI SELF-ASSESSESMENT PUBLIC APP V2 (arcgis.com). If you have neither a smart phone nor online access, then call them with an old fashioned phone.

This is an important regulation because lead can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. I am amongst the many scientist who believe there is no safe level of lead exposure. If your home was built before 1990 the only way to know for sure if you have lead in your drinking water is to test. You can get your water tested for lead by Fairfax Water by contacting Customer Service at (703) 698-5800. Test kits cost $40 for the first kit and $20 for every following kit should you wish to do any additional sampling. Once your order is processed, you will receive a test kit with instructions for how to take the water sample and return it to Fairfax Water for testing. 

The U. S. EPA limit for lead in drinking water is currently 15 parts per billion (ppb), but only requires action if limited sample monitoring for lead has exceeded the 15 ppb action level in more than 10% of the homes tested. Cities are only required to test a very small number of homes monthly and the condition and age of the plumbing in the home really determines if lead levels will be elevated. EPA estimates that there are 9.2 million lead service lines nationally.  

Lead in drinking water is a national problem mostly associated with older urban areas.  Lead in drinking water predominately comes from the pipes. Lead does not exist in most groundwater, rivers and lakes- the source water for most municipal and private water supplies. Instead, lead in drinking water is picked up from the pipes on its journey into a home.

In the early years of public water supply the water service lines delivering water from the water main in the street into each home were commonly made of lead. This practice began to fade by the 1950’s but was legal until 1988. Lead was also used to solder copper pipes together before 1988 (when the 1986 ban on lead in paint and solder went into effect). Also, until very recently (2011 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act) almost all drinking water fixtures (faucets and such) were made from brass containing up to 8% lead, even if they were sold as "lead-free." So even homes built with PVC piping in the 2000’s may have some lead in most of the faucets.