Do you have a lead service line?
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Program Guide
Please reference this guide for critical information throughout your lead service line replacement
Test your water service line
Learn how to perform an at-home test your water service line for lead and send us a report
FAQ
We are ready to work with you to answer your questions
More Information
Learn more about upcoming public meetings, the project timeline, and recording of past public meetings
What to Expect
Before Construction
NLPU and its contractor will schedule a site visit 10-14 days before construction. At this visit, final confirmation of service line material will occur, and a video of existing conditions will be taken. The property owner (or their representative 18 years or older) must be on site during this visit, and the water meter and service line must be accessible.
During Construction
The contractor will be digging at the curb stop in the grass terrace and sidewalk area. To minimize digging, the contractor may use trenchless methods between the curb stop and your home. The contractor will flush your new water service line through an outside spigot to remove any debris or sediment after construction. You still need to follow the flushing protocol for indoor taps. The contractor will restore any disturbed grass and/or concrete areas near the curb stop. Concrete restoration may happen later.
Program Guide
What you need to know about participating in the lead service line replacement program?
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
We are ready to work with you to answer your questions about water quality and help reduce lead exposure.
Yes. New London Public Utilities (NLPU) is committed to providing a safe source of drinking water to its residents, and our staff works hard to keep that commitment. NLPU treats, tests, and distributes high quality drinking water to you and the community. Water provided by NLPU is lead-free when it leaves our treatment plant, and NLPU water mains (the pipes that distribute water throughout the community) are not made of lead. After water leaves the NLPU water main, however, it may be exposed to lead as it flows through the water service line and into in-home plumbing and fixtures. Not all homes contain lead service lines or fixtures, but many especially older homes do. If your home was built before 1986, its service line may be made of lead. Make sure that any plumbing fixtures you install are certified to be lead-free.
Aservice lineis a pipe that connects the water main in the street to household plumbing. In New London, NLPU owns the portion of it from the water main in the street to the curb box valve (outside the home) and it is owned by the property owner from the curb box valve into the residence. Although lead levels in New London have not exceeded safety standards, there is still potential for lead to enter the drinking water through lead service lines. This program works proactively to eliminate that risk. Elevated lead levels, if present, can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.
Lead is a naturally occurring material used in many residential and industrial products, meaning we may be exposed to it at work or at home. Historically, lead was considered a good material for plumbing because it easily forms into different shapes and resists leaks. For this reason, many homes may have lead-containing service lines to the house, pipes in the house, and kitchen and bath fixtures. Lead may also be found in paint and other products, especially in older homes
If your home was built before 1986 and is not a large multi-unit building, there is a possibility that your service line is made of lead. To confirm this, you can easily identify the type of material used for service lines and in-home plumbing. Visit LeadFreeNewLondon.com to learn more about how to test your service line material.
NLPU has created an initial inventory of lead service lines based on construction records, but those records are not perfect. To improve our inventory, NLPU will continue to perform in-home verification testing and test pits at the curb stop. In-Home Verification Testing includes a physical investigation of the property's service line to determine current service line material. Access to the service line pipe inside the home (often in the basement) will be required for a verification test; homeowners will be notified ahead of time if their home was selected and provided the option to agree or decline the inspection. The results of the investigation will be provided to customers on the same day.
Swab Testing includes:
- A physical inspection of the property’s service line to determine existing material.The service line will be “swabbed” and the results will be immediately known (presence of lead or not).
- Access to the service line pipe inside the home (often in the basement) will be required for a swab test. The space must be clear and the pipe must be exposed to complete the test.
- Homeowners will be notified ahead of time if their home was selected and provided the option to agree or decline the inspection.
Test Pits include :
- Digging test pits is the process of digging to expose underground utilities for inspection.
- This work takes place at the curb stop and helps NLPU determine the material of the drinking water service lines on both the utility and customer side of the line.
Lead service lines are anticipated to be progressively replaced over the course of this multi-year program. NLPU worked with the state to develop a plan that addresses the most at-risk areas of the city first. Phase 1A will begin in early 2024, followed by Phase 1B shortly after. Pending funding availability, Phase 2 is anticipated to begin in 2025 and Phase 3 in 2026. Visit LeadFreeNewLondon.com to see which phase your home is part of.
Replacing the service line usually involves digging a trench from the street. The new copper service line will enter through the floor or the wall and connect to your existing plumbing at the first water shut-off valve. A lead service line replacement is usually completed in one day; water will be unavailable for up to 10 hours during construction. At the end of the day, any holes from construction in the area around the new water service entry will be resealed. Construction crews will return at a later date to restore lawn areas, concrete sidewalks, and the road. If the replacement is occurring in conjunction with another capital improvement project on your street, details may be different.
If your street is undergoing or scheduled for a capital improvement project—like a water main replacement or rehabilitation—service pipe replacement will occur in conjunction with that project. Otherwise, lead service lines are anticipated to progressively be replaced over the course of this multi-year program. Several factors will drive when and where service lines are replaced.
The City of New London is prioritizing communities who are most vulnerable and at-risk from lead exposure, particularly infants and children. Areas with large numbers of facilities that serve these populations, such as schools and daycares, will be prioritized. Other determining factors are areas with the highest concentration of lead service lines, and underserved neighborhoods in addition to coordination with other construction activity.
The City of New London is prioritizing communities who are most vulnerable and at-risk from lead exposure, particularly infants and children. Areas with large numbers of facilities that serve these populations, such as schools and daycares, will be prioritized. Other determining factors are areas with the highest concentration of lead service lines, and underserved neighborhoods in addition to coordination with other construction activity.
Lead service line replacements are of no direct cost to customers who opt into this program.
Please refer to the Homeowners’ Guide to Managing Lead for information on this question.
While the lead service line may be the only source of lead in the home’s plumbing, there could still be lead in a home’s interior plumbing. In these cases, replacing the lead service line will reduce but not eliminate the amount of lead in your water. To check whether there is still lead in your water, NLPU will perform follow-up testing (as described in the program booklet) 3 to 6 months after replacement. If you still have lead above 2 parts per billion after the service line replacement, it is likely that your interior plumbing contains lead and you should take appropriate precautions (refer to the Homeowners’ Guide to Managing Lead for more information).
NLPU website with more information and helpful tips on lead in drinking water:
LeadFreeNewLondon.com
LeadFreeNewLondon.com
Resources to understand and reduce lead exposure from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: epa.gov/lead
Lead Hotline - Contact the National Lead Information Center's hotline at
1 (800) 424-LEAD [5323]
More information and resources
New London Public Utilities (NLPU) is committed to providing a safe source of drinking water to its residents, and our staff work hard to keep that commitment. Because property owners in New London own a portion of their water service lines, there is a shared responsibility to manage lead exposure. We are ready to work with you to answer your questions about water quality and help reduce lead exposure.
NLPU offers the following additional state and national resources for you to learn more about lead and drinking water safety:
Connecticut Department of Public Health information on leadResources to understand and reduce lead exposure from the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUSEPA Resources – Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead and Tips To Reduce Exposure in Drinking Water
Lead Hotline – Contact the National Lead Information Center's hotline at 1 (800) 424-LEAD [5323]
More Information
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Meet the Team
Amy Anderson
Program Manager
Kate Edwards
Public Outreach Coordinator
Joseph Lanzafame
Director of Public Utilities
Sofia Lee
Inspector