FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 8, 2024
CONTACT: Chris Boyle, Director of Communications
(860) 706-9654 – christopher.boyle@ct.gov
HARTFORD, Conn.— The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is notifying Connecticut residents who use public water systems for their drinking water that they will receive a notification from the public water system if their service lines are made of lead, are galvanized (coated with a protective layer of zinc) requiring replacement or made of an unknown material.
If the service line is not in one of these categories, residents will not receive a notification from their water supplier. The service line is the pipe that carries water from the water supply main in the street to a home and/or building structure.
"I applaud the EPA and public water systems for taking these unprecedented steps to protect our communities from exposure to lead and other dangers in our drinking water," said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD. "These rule changes from the EPA and the funding to implement them are vital to protect the public health of our communities."
Public water systems are required to notify all customers with lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown material in their service lines and repeat the notice on an annual basis until the service line has been replaced.
The communication that water companies are sending to their customers include:
- Information about the material used in the water service line
- An explanation of the health risks associated with these hazardous materials
- Simple steps to reduce exposure
- Information on the plan to replace lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown material service lines
- Information about opportunities to verify the material of the service line, if the material is unknown
To support communities in identifying and replacing lead and galvanized requiring replacement service lines, public water systems are encouraged to apply for assistance through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) Program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Eligible projects include inventorying and replacing service lines from the public water main to customers' plumbing.
For residents who have received a notification about your service line material, please contact your water company for more information to learn how they can replace or identify the material of your water line and find out how to test your water for lead. For more information about how to protect the rest of your home from lead, please visit www.leadfreect.org
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