On Tuesday, October 15, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) submitted their initial water service line inventory to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). This submission is part of a nationwide effort, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to identify and eliminate lead and galvanized pipes from water distribution systems.

In December 2023, Baltimore City and County formed the Baltimore Service Line Partnership to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) requirements and ensure a coordinated response across jurisdictions. A key part of this partnership has been asking Baltimore City and County residents and businesses to check the material of their water service lines and submit their findings by completing an online survey.

To date, nearly 4,600 self-reporting surveys have been completed in the City, saving approximately $3 million in field inspection costs. Approximately 5,700 self-reporting surveys have been completed in the County. To date, there are 215,666 remaining service lines of unknown material in the City and 120,054 remaining service lines in the County.

As part of this national inventory process, Baltimore City and County have identified the following:

Baltimore City Findings:

• Lead service lines: 32 (0.01% of all service lines)
• Galvanized iron pipes requiring replacement: 293 (0.13% of all service lines)

Baltimore County Findings:

• Lead service lines: 15 (0.01% of all service lines)
• Galvanized iron pipes requiring replacement: 92 (0.14% of all service lines)

This inventory submission marks an important milestone in compliance with the LCRR, which requires all water systems to identify lead pipes in their distribution systems and submit their initial inventory by October 16, 2024.

The initial numbers of identified lead and galvanized pipes, as well as the total number of unknown services lines, remain consistent with findings from water utilities nationwide. Many jurisdictions are still working to determine the material of older pipes.

This inventory submission serves as a progress update, with no required minimum number of service lines that must be recorded or submitted to MDE. All submitted information is available on the Baltimore Service Line Partnership website, in line with LCRR guidelines, to keep residents informed about the progress of identifying materials in Baltimore-area water service lines.

Notifying Residents with Lead and Galvanized Pipes

Over the next few weeks, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works will begin mailing letters to city residents and businesses identified as having lead or galvanized water service lines.

The letters will confirm the status of each property’s water service line material and invite recipients to schedule a meeting with DPW to discuss:

• The lead pipe replacement strategy
• The voluntary water testing program
• Steps to reduce exposure to lead

Using Technology to Expedite the Inventory Process

Later this month, DPW will begin conducting lead pipe investigations using Swordfish technology to expedite the ongoing inventory process. Swordfish is the world’s first tool capable of detecting lead pipes buried underground without the need for excavation. It uses a low-voltage conductivity probe to identify lead pipes quickly and efficiently, reducing the cost and disruption typically involved in such inspections.

The Swordfish technology provides a cost-effective, non-invasive way for DPW to inspect water service lines without disturbing private property. Inspection costs, ranging from $600 to $700 per property, will be covered by DPW.

City residents selected for the first round of Swordfish inspections will receive advance notifications. These will include a 30-day notice letter, a 2-day doorhanger reminder, and a final written confirmation once the inspection is complete.

In addition to the Swordfish inspections, DPW has started using predictive modeling to estimate the material of water service lines. Baltimore City will use predictive modeling to group approximately 3,000 service lines with unknown pipe material into various categories, so DPW can target public outreach and inspection efforts in specific neighborhoods. With enough self-reporting surveys and field inspection data, the model can predict with confidence if a property’s service line is lead, galvanized, or another material. By focusing outreach and inspection efforts, DPW can minimize disturbances to property owners and reduce costs.

Predictive modeling uses machine-learning algorithms to analyze demographic, geographic, and historical data to identify trends that may indicate the presence of lead or non-lead service lines.

Next Steps for Residents

The LCRR requires ongoing efforts to identify, report, and eventually replace lead and galvanized pipes.

As part of this multi-year initiative, residents are encouraged to check the material of their water service lines and report the findings through the Baltimore Service Line self-reporting survey. The online survey will remain open throughout the LCRR compliance process.

What Residents Can Do

To complete the self-reporting survey:

1. Visit the Baltimore Service Line Partnership website at www.servicelinepartnership.baltimorecity.gov.
2. Click on the Take the Self-Reporting Survey! button.
3. Enter your address.
4. If a blue dot appears at your property, complete the self-reporting survey.

For more information on the inventory and the ongoing effort to replace outdated water service lines, visit the Baltimore Service Line Partnership website or scan the QR code below.

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