The Service Line Inventory project is a part of our ongoing work to provide safe, reliable drinking water. This Project proactively addresses new federal requirements that direct public water systems, such as TVWD, to identify if any lead service lines in their water systems. TVWD is conducting the inventory now, in advance of the October 2024 deadline to confirm that lead service lines aren’t present in our water system.

TVWD’s system records and prior field observations tell us that our potential to find lead service lines is very low. If your home was built after 1985, you do not have a lead service line, since that was when lead was banned in Oregon.

TVWD is using a statistically-sound method approved by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to confirm there are no lead service lines in our system. Crews will conduct field investigations of a randomly selected subset of service lines to verify the material is not lead. Since the probability of finding lead service lines is already very low, (as a result of regional construction practices and prior lead bans) TVWD’s approach is designed to be cost-effective and efficient with minimal impact on customers.

The inventory work consists of a visual inspection of the service line near the water meter. By exposing a portion of the service line, crews will be able to identify the pipe material. After inspection, crews will restore the area as near as possible to its prior condition. The inventory work consists of a visual inspection of the service line near the water meter. The inspection is done by exposing a portion of the service line to identify the pipe material. After the line is inspected, the area will be restored as near as possible to the condition prior to the inspection.

Lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health, particularly children. Lead is generally not found in TVWD’s source waters that supply your drinking water, nor is it introduced through the treatment processes used to keep your water safe. However, when the drinking water distributed by TVWD comes into contact with plumbing materials that contain lead, a small amount of that lead may dissolve into the water. Lead, which was more commonly used in certain parts of the United States for service lines prior to being banned during the mid-eighties, can be a source of lead in drinking water.

While lead service lines are the most significant source of lead in drinking water across the United States, several commonly used plumbing materials historically contained lead. The most common source of lead in our region is lead solder in home plumbing, which was used prior to 1986 to connect copper pipes. Also, plumbing fixtures manufactured prior to 2011 may have used brass containing lead. These materials can still be a source of lead in drinking water but will release less lead into drinking water than lead service lines.

TVWD owns the portion of the service line from the water main to the meter. You own the portion of the service line from the meter to your home or business.