- FAQ about Lead in Water
- Non-Lead Service Line Statement 12.4.24
Non-Lead Service Line Statement 12.4.24
1. Comprehensive Data Review:
The City of North Salt Lake began the process with a detailed review of historical records, including water infrastructure maps, parcel data, and corporate knowledge. Special attention was given to homes and buildings constructed before 1986. Properties built after this ban were deemed less likely to have lead service lines, allowing the City to prioritize older areas for further inspection.
2. Advanced Analytical Tools:
Modern geospatial and predictive modeling tools were employed by the City of North Salt Lake to assess areas most likely to contain lead service pipes. These tools incorporated historical construction data and were enhanced through the efforts of the City’s Public Works Water Crew, who provided on-the-ground insights to validate and update the City’s GIS mapping system.
3. Public Works Field Verification:
The Public Works Water Crew played a pivotal role in the field verification process. The team conducted targeted inspections throughout the city to identify the material type of service lines at both the City’s connection and the customer’s connection. Field crews used a vacuum trailer to visually inspect service line material type in meter boxes. Personnel also provided material details of known locations they had worked on.
6. Continuous Improvement:
The City of North Salt Lake recognizes the evolving nature of lead detection technologies and is committed to refining its methods as new tools and data become available. In addition to these tools new standard operating procedures have been adopted to capture service line information when it becomes available during construction activities or plan reviews.
Galvanized Service Lines
Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have been coated with zinc to prevent rust and corrosion. They were commonly used in homes built before 1960 as an alternative to lead pipes. A galvanized service line that is considered to need replacement because it is or was at any point downstream of a lead service line, meaning it could have absorbed lead from the lead pipe and potentially release it into drinking water, even if the galvanized pipe itself isn't made of lead. Using the methods outlined above the City of North Salt Lake has made the determination lead piping hasn’t been used for service lines in the past, and homes with galvanized piping are not at risk from potential release of lead from upstream piping. If you are planning to replace your water service line, please let us know so we can update inventory records and investigate if the City-owned section from the water main to the meter needs to be replaced.
What is a water service line?
A service line is an underground pipe that carries water from the water main in the street into your home or building. The City of North Salt Lake owns the section of the service line from the water main to the water meter (usually located in the park strip). The section from the water meter to the home or building is owned by the customer.
The City of North Salt Lake has compiled an inventory of water service lines in the distribution system. This survey shows the service line material type connected to the water main and line material type beyond the water meter into homes and businesses. This map can be accessed at https://nslcity.org/1012/Important-Information-about-Lead-in-Water . In addition, this web page includes important information about lead in drinking water and helpful links for more information.