Service Material Definitions
• Lead – A service line is considered Lead if any segment of the service line is known to be made of lead. EPA has directed that all lead service lines must be replaced.
• Galvanized – A service line is considered Galvanized if any segment of the service line is known to be made of galvanized steel. Additionally, a service line made of galvanized steel may be classified as Galvanized Requiring Replacement if there are no records proving any portion of the service line was not previously made of lead. EPA has directed that all Galvanized Requiring Replacement service lines must be replaced.
• Unknown – A service line material is considered Unknown if the material of any section has not yet been determined. EPA has directed that all Unknown service lines be investigated further to be re-categorized as Lead, Galvanized Requiring Replacement, or Non-Lead.
• Non-Lead – Service lines categorized as Non-Lead are most commonly made of copper or plastic. Your service line may also have been categorized as Non-Lead if it was installed after the use of lead pipes as water service lines was banned.
• Could Be Lead – the service material is considered Unknown and still requires investigation but was given this designation due to the high likelihood of lead being present at this address. Unlike the Unknown service line category, service lines in the Could Be Lead category have been given this designation based on a number of factors including home age, watermain age, and close proximity to other known lead services. EPA has directed that all Could Be Lead service lines be investigated further to be re-categorized as Lead, Galvanized Requiring Replacement, or Non-Lead.
We are continually updating our inventory records and will update this inventory as information is identified. Please contact us for more information on how you can help ECWA identify the customer owned portion of your service line.
Testing Results
If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Drinking water supplied by ECWA does not contain lead when it leaves the treatment plant.
Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.
ECWA is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.
When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by running or flushing your tap for several minutes before using the tap water for drinking or cooking.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, the ECWA will test your water for free. Please call 716-685-8580.
Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize your exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/ safewater/lead.
ECWA has been on reduced monitoring schedule for lead and copper, we sample a minimum of 50 homes ever year. Compliance sampling was performed last in 2023 and is currently ongoing in 2024.
