Lead Service Line Replacement Survey

Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act

In January 2022, the State of Illinois passed the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (LSLRNA). The first purpose of the LSLRNA requires owners and operators of community water supplies to deliver a complete water service line material inventory to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The material inventory database must include the water service line material composition on the public side (City-owned and the private side (resident owned) as well as a plan to replace any lead water service line.  

Carbondale’s water meets EPA’s requirements and the City has no known lead water service lines within its jurisdiction. For details on our drinking water supply and its compliance with all standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act, see the latest City’s Water Quality Report

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For more information from the EPA about the health risks associated with lead in drinking water visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water. 

The City Needs Your Help

To meet the requirements of the LSLRNA and identify lead service lines in our community, the City needs your assistance in performing a quick test to identify the water service line material on your property.  We are therefore conducting this resident survey to inventory the water service material on the private side (resident owned) as shown in the image above.   

Please follow the link below for detailed instructions on how to find your service line and identify the material. The link will ask you if your meter is outside or inside- all water meters in Carbondale are outside of the home.

Find the lead pipes in your home (npr.org)

Ways to Respond after completing the survey

You may report your results in one of three ways. You only need to complete one method.

1. Return the physical survey mailed to your home at the City Hall drive-thru dropbox,

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2. Call Christina Kuhns at (618) 457-3240 Ext. 1 to report survey results,

3. Complete the e-survey Online SurveyFAQ

Q: What is lead?  

A: Lead is a naturally occurring metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Lead can be found in air, soil, dust, food, and water. 

Q: How can I be exposed to lead?

A: The most common source of lead exposure is from paint in homes and buildings built before 1978. Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the main sources of exposure for lead in American youth. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, lead also can be found in some household plumbing materials and some water service lines. The Environmental Protection Agency states that lead pipes are more likely to be found in older homes built before Congress enacted lead-reduction requirements as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act amendments in 1986. As a result, homes built in or after 1986 are far less likely to have lead pipes. 

Q: Has lead been found in Carbondale’s water?

A: The City of Carbondale has been issued reduced Lead and Copper Monitoring due to favorable monitoring history, specific high-tech treatment processes, regular sampling, and quality laboratory testing. The levels of these contaminants are consistently well-below regulated limits.

Q: What exactly is a service line?

A: The service line is the pipe that connects the main water pipes to your home. The City owns and is fully responsible for the portion of the pipe before your property line. The portion of the pipe within the homeowners’ property lines, however, is owned and maintained privately by the homeowner. Due to this fact, the City doesn’t have as much information as to what materials this portion of the pipe is made of.

Q: If I have a lead service line, how can I reduce risk of it contaminating my drinking water?

A: The best option is to replace your service line. If this is not immediately possible, you can follow the steps below to reduce your risks:

                Never use hot tap water for drinking, cooking, or preparing baby formula. 

If you haven’t used any water for several hours, run your faucet for three minutes to flush out any standing water from the service line.

                Remove and clean the screen on your faucet.

                Do not boil water to remove lead, this will not help

Q: What happens next?

A: If any lead is reported, the City will contact the resident to discuss the next steps.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Tony Harrison, (618) 457-3240, from the City of Carbondale Utilities Department, or Burcin Akkaya, PE, bakkaya@rjnmail.com, from RJN Group. RJN Group is the engineering consultant assisting the City with this project.