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LSL Inventory Program
Recently the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the existing Lead & Copper Rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These revisions require all Public Water Suppliers (PWS) in the country to perform a full inventory of pipe material for each water service line. The service line is the section of pipe from the water main to the water meter but does not include any plumbing beyond the Town's water meter. Following the inventory, the revisions require the PWS mail notifications to properties with documented lead pipes, certain configurations of galvanized pipe, OR service pipes that are deemed "unknown" based on the regulatory criteria. Below are links to the report and copies of the notifications that are being sent to the affected properties.
Some key notes:
- Nothing abnormal has been found from DPW's water testing. Recent water samples have tested as expected and consistent with previous testing. This mailing is required based on the review of paper documents.
- No available documents indicate the usage of lead pipe.
- No known DPW staff (including tenured employees/retirees) have reported encountering lead pipe in water services.
- Lead and copper levels can elevate due to corrosive water that causes the material to leach into the water. Burlington treats both water sources (Mill Pond and the MWRA connection) with an anti-corrosion additive to mitigate this possibility.
- DPW routinely tests water samples for lead and copper levels dating back to at least 1992. These results are sent to, and reviewed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). Locations of the samples are taken from locations that are believed to be at higher risks of lead and copper levels. No available records document any exceedances or violations in lead and copper levels since this date.
- Pipe materials entering into property foundations were documented during the last major water meter replacement project (~2010). No service in that inventory was identified as being lead.
- The mailing is required by EPA on an annual basis until the material needing replacing is replaced, or the "unknown" pipes are determined to be non-lead.
- Burlington will continue to work with the EPA and DEP to comply with the regulations for determining "unknown" materials.