Water Quality

A service line is an underground pipe that carries water from the water main, commonly in the street, utility corridor or tunnel, into your building. The University of Utah water system owns and maintains the service line from the water main to the building. This does not include the plumbing or fixtures inside the building, only the pipe from the water main to just inside of the building.

Your service line material is not known but could be lead. During the initial inventory of all service lines within our water system, there was not enough information available to determine the pipe material of your service line and it was classified as ‘unknown.’ Additional investigations will continue until the pipe material can be determined.

To ensure safe drinking water, contact us to help you identify the material of your service line. If you are unsure how to locate your service line or identify the material, we can assist you. Verification can be done through pot-holing or other exploratory methods. 

If your water service line contains lead, the service line with be replaced. 

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups:

• Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. 
• Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. 
• Children who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have an increased risk of these adverse health effects. 
• Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems. 
• To learn more, visit CDC.gov and search “drinking water” and “lead”

Lead can get in your drinking water as it passes through the plumbing in your house or when it sits in lead pipes for a while. If the material of your pipes is unknown and may be lead, you can reduce your exposure to lead in your drinking water by taking the following steps: 

• Let the water run for 3-5 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking if the water has not been turned on in over six hours (other ways to flush your line may include taking a shower, running the dishwasher, or doing laundry). Boiling water does NOT remove lead.
• Clean the screens and aerators in faucets frequently to remove captured lead particles. 
• Use cold water for drinking, making food, and making baby formula. Hot water releases more lead from pipes than cold water.
• Test your water periodically.  Water is tested periodically and reported to Districts if issues are found.
• Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead: Faucets and fittings sold before 2014 are more likely to contain lead. 
• Find other ways to get or treat your water, like using bottled water or water filters. You can find certified filters that remove lead by searching online for “certified lead filters”
• Use only certified “lead-free” piping and materials for plumbing when building or remodeling.