In December of 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule requiring every Public Water Systems to develop a comprehensive service line inventory to identify service lines that are made of lead, galvanized iron, or unknow materials.  A water service line is the connection between the public water distribution main in the street and the private service line to the water meter in a customer’s home or business.  The service line inventory was submitted to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by October 16, 2024.

Some older houses and buildings in Marion may have a lead or galvanized iron service line between the water meter and public water main.  Other potential sources of lead in drinking water include galvanized iron plumbing, lead solder in copper plumbing installed prior to 1988, and bronze or brass plumbing fixtures such as faucets and spigots installed before 2014.  After periods of low to no use, there is an increased risk of lead leaching into the water from those plumbing components. 

To develop our Service Line Inventory, Marion Water Department staff researched existing tap card files and performed field investigations.  Following the inventory submission to the IDNR, Marion Water Department was required to send out notifications to all residents served by lead, unknown, or galvanized iron service lines. 

The Marion Water Department is committed to the public safety of our residents and to providing clean and safe drinking water.  Providing drinking water to the public is a highly regulated process, with regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).  We take our mission seriously – our drinking water is highly monitored and tested daily ,365 days a year.  One thing we test for is the presence of lead in the drinking water.

Lead is not typically found in the deep aquifer sources that supply the Marion Water Department’s Water Treatments Plants.  Lead can, however, be found in some homes with outdated plumbing materials.  The primary sources of lead in drinking water are from lead or galvanized steel service lines, galvanized household plumbing, lead solder in old copper plumbing, or certain brass fixtures (faucets, spigots, valves, etc.).

The Federal Ban on lead service lines and lead plumbing solder was imposed in 1986.  Older homes and properties, especially those built before the 1950s, are more likely to be served by a lead service line and galvanized steel plumbing.  You can check the material of your water service by performing the scratch and magnet test on your service line where it enters the building.

For more information, check out the links below:

EPA.gov/safewater/lead Webpage

Lead Service Line Inventories Webpage