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Water Service Line Inventory Project FAQs
Thank you for your interest in Burlington's Water Service Line Inventory Project! This initiative ensures we are in compliance with the new EPA mandate and gives us the opportunity to identify older water service lines that could have an impact on water pressure, and the quality of your drinking water.
We recommend reviewing the list of Frequently Asked Questions below before submitting your survey. If you have a question and can't find the answer, please reach out to our Customer Care team via email or call (802) 863-4501.
The City of Burlington is working with the State of Vermont and the US Environmental Protection Agency on a nationwide requirement to identify and remove potential sources of lead from public drinking water. As part of this requirement, Burlington Water Resources is required to confirm or identify the materials of every water service line in the City. The City has no record of active lead service lines and does not expect to find any lead lines; however this inventory is a great opportunity for us to identify service lines and components that may need replacement to maintain high water quality and water pressure, such as older galvanized service lines, water meters, or other connectors.
It is very unlikely there is lead in your Burlington drinking water. Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode. Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing. To prevent corrosion, Burlington Water Resources adds a chemical called Zinc Orthophosphate to the water supply before it leaves our treatment plant. Zinc Orthophosphate coats the interior of drinking water pipes and fixtures, preventing corrosion and reducing the likelihood of lead being present in the water.
The City of Burlington has no records of active lead water service lines in the City and does not expect to find any lead service lines, as they were never commonly used in Burlington. Some older homes with galvanized steel lines may still have limited exposure to lead in their system via short connectors between the service line and the main called goosenecks, but they are not considered impactful lead components under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. In addition, small amounts of lead may be present in the internal plumbing (e.g., pipes, solder, faucets, fixtures, etc.) of older homes, or in water meters installed before 2001, but also should not affect lead levels in water due to our effective treatment controls (i.e., use of corrosion inhibitors).
This project will ensure we are in compliance with the new EPA mandate to identify any lead service lines and to identify galvanized service lines that have a tendency to leak, break and reduce water pressure over time due to a buildup of deposits inside the line.
There are over 11,000 water service lines with materials that need to be identified or confirmed in less than one year. Due to the scope and timing of this requirement, we need Burlington Water Resources customers to participate to help us keep our operating costs low. Keeping operating costs low helps us provide water at affordable, competitive rates and offer our customers additional rebate and affordability programs.
In addition to conducting a thorough analysis of historical and current installation records, we are primarily depending on the public to participate in our survey. We will also be conducting home visits to homes needing follow-up and canvassing older neighborhoods (streets established before 1938). Given the scope of this project, we highly encourage you to take action by responding to this survey, as well as any future follow up questions we may have regarding your property.
Burlington Water Resources will publish a publicly available map with our findings so that residents can look up their system's information in the future. If we do find pipes requiring replacement, Burlington Water Resources will initiate Phase II of this project to work with property owners to replace their water service lines.
No, this phase of the project does not require excavation for any properties. You will be notified if we have flagged your service line for further investigation during Phase II of this project.
Identifying your service line material is free, even if you have a specific situation that requires a home visit from Burlington Water Resources. If your service line is lead (unlikely), it will be replaced at no cost to you.
The EPA's Lead and Copper Rule is a regulation from 1991 that sets maximum levels of copper and lead in water distribution systems and works to remove sources of lead from our drinking water. The rule is updated in accordance with the latest science. The latest update, called the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, requires all water utilities to record the material of all water service lines in their service area on both the customer and utility side by October 2024. If any galvanized requiring replacement or lead service lines are identified, the utility is required to work with the customers to replace them at no cost to the customer.
Galvanized Requiring Replacement indicates a galvanized steel service line that is or was ever “downstream” of a lead service line, or is currently downstream of a pipe for which the lead status is unknown.
Water service lines are pipes that carry water from the City of Burlington’s main water line to individual properties. Most properties will only have one service line, but others will have a separate water service line for fire protection, irrigation, or other non-potable uses. The material type for all service lines must be recorded as part of this project.
The water service enters the property through the basement foundation or wall (typically on the street side) and connects to the water meter. If your property does not have a basement then look in another protected area like a utility closet or garage. This graphic shows where water service lines can typically be seen in the building .
Water service lines 2-inches in diameter and less can be made out of plastic, copper, galvanized steel, and lead. Water service lines greater than 2-inches in diameter can be made out of ductile iron, cast iron, and plastic. Please review our guide that explains how to identify the material of your service line.
If your property has multiple service lines (e.g., domestic, fire protection and/or irrigation), please document each one separately. The survey form will walk you through that process.
If you live in a multi-unit building, we will work with the property owner/manager to identify the incoming service line.
Burlington Water Resources will have a limited number of appointments for home visits to determine the material of your service line for you. If you anticipate needing a site visit then please contact the Water Resources Customer Care team via email or call (802) 863-4501 to be added to the waitlist. You will be contacted in the Spring of 2024 with additional details on how to schedule your preferred time slot.
You will be notified if we have identified your service line as GRR or lead (unlikely) needing replacement during Phase II of this project. If your service needs to be replaced, it will be replaced at no cost to you.
For typical service line repairs and replacement, the City of Burlington and the property owner share 50 percent of the responsibility and cost from the water main to the curb stop. The property owner is also responsible for 100 percent of the service line costs from the curb stop to the home including the water meter. All water service line work must be completed by Burlington Water Resources unless otherwise authorized by the department. The graphic below summarizes property owner and City of Burlington responsibility for each portion of the water service line.
Although the City of Burlington has no records of lead water service lines in the City and does not expect to find any lead service lines, we prevent lead exposure by:
- Adding a corrosion inhibitor called Zinc Orthophosphate to the water. This prevents metals from pipes, such as lead and copper, from leaching into the water.
- Conducting a robust sampling programs to monitor lead and copper levels in residential homes more likely to be exposed to lead based on their construction date.
In addition, the State of Vermont outlawed lead solder made up of more than 8% lead in 1988. In 2010, the State reduced the maximum allowable lead content to be considered "lead free" to a weighted average of 0.25% for plumbing fixtures and 0.20% for solder or flux. The State of Vermont also has one of the strictest lead monitoring programs in the country for schools and daycares.
The Burlington Lead Program is a housing program within the City of Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO). They can provide education, home visits as well as outreach and resources to homes in Burlington to prevent lead exposure through lead paint and can link you to additional resources, such as the Healthy Homes program, which can provide funding assistance to address other environmental health and safety concerns.
The Vermont Department of Health can provide information about additional lead hazards including those found in the soil, hobbies & crafts, consumer products, imported goods and vintage, antique or salvaged items.
First, understand whether you may be at risk for lead exposure in your home.
1. Learn about your drinking water system. The EPA requires all community water systems to prepare and deliver an annual water quality report. This report is available on the Water Quality page of our website and includes sample results from testing throughout Burlington’s distribution system. Paper copies can be mailed upon request.
- 2. Have your water tested. If you are concerned there could be lead in the plumbing in your home, there is testing available. The Vermont Department of Health provides chemical, radiological, and microbiological analyses for public and private drinking water. Review the available tests, costs and instructions for taking an appropriate sample by visiting the link above or calling 1-800-660-9997.
Reduce your exposure by taking the following steps:
- 1. Flush your pipes before drinking. Run the cold water before using it for 5 minutes whenever you have not used your water in over 6 hours. This flushes water out of your pipes that may have been in contact with lead components for an extended period of time and ensures that your water comes directly from the main.
- 2. Use filters or treatment devices. Consider installing a water filter. You can learn more about products specifically designed to reduce lead by visiting the National Sanitation Foundation.
- 3. Update your plumbing. If you suspect your internal plumbing has lead components, we recommend replacing old fixtures with new ones that meet current lead exposure prevention requirements. You can find a plumber licensed to work in Vermont by visiting the Vermont Department of Public Safety.
The EPA announced the Rule Revision in 2021 but only recently issued guidance to the states on how to conduct their service line inventories. Burlington Water Resources is aiming to get the first round of responses by April 2024, so we can conduct follow up and complete the inventory by the October 2024 deadline.
City of Burlington
Burlington Lead Program: www.burlingtonvt.gov/blp or (802) 865-5323
Water Quality Reports: www.burlingtonvt.gov/water/Water-Quality-Reports or (802) 863-4501
Customer Care Team: water-resources@burlingtonvt.gov or (802) 863-4501
State of Vermont
Lead Hazards in the Home: www.healthvermont.gov/environment/home/lead-hazards-and-lead-poisoning
Drinking Water Testing: www.healthvermont.gov/lab/drinking-water-testing or 1-800-660-9997
Lead Monitoring in Schools & Child Care Facilities: https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/reports-responses-special-projects/lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care#first
Lead Regulations & Enforcement: www.ago.vermont.gov/divisions/consumer-protection/consumer-resources/lead
Licensed Plumbers: www.firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/plumbing
US Environmental Protection Agency
Lead and Copper Rule & Revisions: www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-and-copper-rule
All Lead Information: www.epa.gov/lead
