All water utilities are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a water service line inventory that identifies materials used to construct and repair all service lines with the goal of replacing lead pipes. The East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission is requesting assistance from customers to identify the type of service line entering their homes.

STEP 1: IDENTIFICATION

A service line is the pipe used to connect a building to the water main in the street. The service line enters the building near the water meter which may be in the basement, crawl space, garage, or an outside pit. Locate the pipe that enters the building near your water meter and refer to the photos of pipe materials below. Verify the material of the section of pipe that is located immediately where the pipe enters the building, before the meter. If your pipe appears to be metallic, the scratch test can be performed with an abrasive material such as a flathead screwdriver, key or coin. If your pipe is a non-copper metal (appears grey), determine pipe material by sticking a magnet to it or gently scratching it with a key or coin (East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission suggests wearing gloves when performing a scratch test).

You can also use EPA’s Protect Your Tap A Quick Check for Lead to help you determine if your service line is made of lead (https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/protect-your-tap-quick-check-lead-0 ) .This guide uses pictures and step-by-step directions to identify lead service lines and provides resources to learn more. Within the guide, choose Municipal Water and go to the section: “Find Your Water Line/Service Line”.

STEP 2 COMPLETE THE SURVEY USING ONE OF THE OPTIONS BELOW

OPTION 1-ONLINE SURVEY: SNAP A PICTURE OF YOUR SERVICE LINE AS IT ENTERS UPLOAD TO OUR ONLINE SURVEY “PREFERRED METHOD**

Please follow the Instructions in Step 1 then go to Service Line Inventory Survey. The survey asks for your name, email address, phone number, street address, year your house was constructed, water service line installation date (if known), service line material, and how you verified your service line material. We also request that you upload a photo of your service line taken where the pipe enters the building, before it reaches the meter.

The online survey is the preferred method for providing your service line information to the East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission. If you are unable to complete the online survey, please submit your response via email, as described in the following section, or by mail.

OPTION 2-E-MAIL OPTION: SNAP A PICTURE OF YOUR SERVICE LINE AND SEND US AN EMAIL

Please follow the instructions in Step 1 then send an e-mail to watersewer@eltownhall.com . Please include your name, address, year your house was constructed, water service line installation date (if known), service line material, and a photo of your service line at the meter.

If you need assistance or would like the East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission to inspect the type of pipe in your home at no cost to you, please contact us at 860-691-4104 or watersewer@eltownhall.com 

We look forward to your interest and participation in this program. Thank you for your important input for safe drinking water!