Lead service line identification: A review of strategies and approaches
Citation:
Hensley, K., V. Bosscher, S. Triantafyllidou, AND D. Lytle. Lead service line identification: A review of strategies and approaches. AWWA Water Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 3(3):e1226, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1226
Impact/Purpose:
Lead service lines (LSL) represent the greatest source of lead (Pb) in drinking water. Identifying LSLs can be challenging, and recent service line (SL) material surveys in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana found that an average 16% of SLs in these states are unknown and may be Pb. Given the large number of unknown LSLs in the United States, pending regulatory requirements, LSL replacement costs, associated Pb exposure risks and the public’s desire to reduce Pb exposure, there is a need to identify where LSLs are located, on public and private property. This review summarizes current industry LSL identification methods including records screening, basic visual examination, water sampling, excavation, predictive data analyses and others. A qualitative comparison of method cost, accuracy, disturbance and other impacts, is provided as a starting point for utilities considering a feasible approach for their specific needs/constraints. Lastly, an example stepwise approach to identify unknown SL materials is proposed.
Description:
Lead service lines (LSL) represent the greatest source of lead (Pb) in drinking water. Identifying LSLs can be challenging, and recent service line (SL) material surveys in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana found that an average 16% of SLs in these states are unknown and may be Pb. Given the large number of unknown LSLs in the United States, pending regulatory requirements, LSL replacement costs, associated Pb exposure risks and the public’s desire to reduce Pb exposure, there is a need to identify where LSLs are located, on public and private property. This review summarizes current industry LSL identification methods including records screening, basic visual examination, water sampling, excavation, predictive data analyses and others. A qualitative comparison of method cost, accuracy, disturbance and other impacts, is provided as a starting point for utilities considering a feasible approach for their specific needs/constraints. Lastly, an example stepwise approach to identify unknown SL materials is proposed.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Lead service line identification: A review of strategies and approaches
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