DPW Has Joined a National Effort to Identify Unknown Water Service Lines

Here’s What You Need to Know

Ensuring the delivering of high-quality water is the top priority for the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW). Water is essentially lead free when it leaves City’s water filtration plant. However, this water can come in contact with lead as it flows through residents’ service lines.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require all water systems in the nation to verify water service line material and make that information accessible to the public.

Baltimore City and County residential, commercial, and industrial property owners are asked to complete a Customer Service Line Survey to determine their water service line material. 

Community meetings on this topic will be held at two locations in January 2024: Monday, January 22 · 6:30 - 8:30pm EST, Randallstown Community Center (3505 Resource Drive Randallstown, MD 21133) Monday, January 29 · 6:30 - 8:30pm EST, Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center (201 Reedbird Avenue Baltimore, MD 21225)

A service line is the water pipe that connects a home to the public water main and conveys water to faucets, toilets, and other fixtures. This the drinking water pipe that comes into homes from the street and is typically found where it enters a home in the basement or utility area.

Baltimore Service Line Video Tutorial Watch this short video to learn how to check your water service line material and report the results to the Baltimore Service Line Partnership.

How to Take the Survey

The survey is available on a new one-stop portal created to serve as a resource for the service line inventory process.

To take the survey, type in an address to determine if the property has been identified as having an unknown service line. Those with unknown service lines will be instructed to take the online survey.

• Locate your water service line. Your service line can be located where it enters your home in your basement or utility area.
• Identify your water service line material.
• Take a picture of your water service & upload the photo at www.servicelinepartnership.baltimorecity.gov

To complete the survey, you will need these tools to identify your service line material: key, magnet, coins, cell phone or camera, and a flashlight. That’s it. Thank you for your help!

Additional instructions on service line inventory process is available on the online portal. The portal also features a “resources” tab featuring a frequently asked questions document and step-by-step instructions on how to take the self-reporting survey.

Delivering High-Quality Water

DPW carefully manages the water chemistry in the distribution system to minimize corrosion from household plumbing. Before the water leaves the filtration plant, DPW carefully treats water with lime, an anti-corrosive agent which prevents lead from leaching out of water pipe, including household plumbing.

Decades of sampling data and laboratory results prove that Baltimore’s lead levels are historically low and do not pose a public health concern as indicated in the Annual Water Quality Reports.