Understanding Your Water Service Line
A water service line is an underground pipe that carries water from the water main, commonly in the street, into your home or building. South Salt Lake owns the section of the service line from the City water main to your water meter, while you (the customer) own the section from the water meter to inside your home or building. It's the shared responsibility of South Salt Lake Water and property owners to maintain, repair, and replace water service lines.
Why Did I Receive a "Notice of Unknown Drinking Water Service Line Material"?
South Salt Lake Water is committed to ensuring safe and clean drinking water flows to all water utility customers within our water district (annual Water Quality Reports are published for public review). South Salt Lake maintains records of all city distribution lines, and the primary material of those lines are ductile iron and PVC. However, the city does not possess records of private homeowner service lines. We advise you to take a proactive approach in determining your water service line material and take action to replace lead pipes.
Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements, if the city does not know the material type of a customer's water service line, we must inform them. The city will be conducting "pothole" tests over the next several years to help determine the water serive line material of customers. We will notify them if the material is lead or another material.
Customes can also test their water service line themselves and complete the online survey to help with this process. See below.
How To Identify Your Water Service Line Material
There are a few ways to help you identify your water service line materials: scratch test, magnet test, calling a plumber. Click here for more information on identifying your water service line. Here are some resources for helping you check your service line.
- EPA's Quick Check for Lead tool
- NPR's interactive tool for an easy step-by-step process
- South Salt Lake's downloadable guide
How Do I Complete the Online Survey After Testing My Water Service Line?
- STEP 1: Locate the water pipe entering your home. This is typically where your main shutoff is (normally in the basement). If your pipe is plastic, you can stop here and complete the online survey.
- STEP 2: Determine the material of your service line.
- STEP 3: Once you've determined your service line material, complete the online survey.