Inventory Program FAQs

WHAT IS A WATER SERVICE LINE?

Water service lines are small pipes that carry water from Westfield DPW-Water Division’s water mains, located in the streets and alleys, into homes and other buildings.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WATER SERVICE LINE ON MY PROPERTY?

Westfield DPW-Water Division and property owners share service line ownership. The Water Division owns the service line from the main in the street to the cub stop, typically at the property line or in the sidewalk. The property owner owns the service line from the curb stop to where it enters the home and connects with the water meter.

WHAT TYPE OF MATERIALS CAN SERVICE LINES BE?

Service lines can be lead, galvanized steel, plastic, brass, copper, cast iron, or ductile iron. Westfield DPW-Water Division is not aware of any lead service lines present in its water distribution system.

WHY MIGHT THE WATER SERVICE LINE OR PLUMBING FIXTURE AT MY HOME HAVE LEAD?

Water systems commonly used lead for water service lines until 1960. Household plumbing, fixtures, and solder may have used lead until it was banned in 1986. From 1986 to 2014, "lead free" plumbing fixtures could have up to 8% lead. Current standards for "lead free" fixtures allow no more than 0.25% lead content. Some homes and buildings, especially those built before 1986, may have service lines and/or plumbing and fixtures that have lead.

Westfield DPW-Water Division is not aware of any lead service lines present in its water distribution system. Based on annual reports, the Water Division has not installed any lead services lines in its service area since 1940.

WHAT OTHER SOURCES OF LEAD ARE IN MY HOME?

Other sources of lead can include plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, fittings, etc.), indoor copper plumbing pipes with lead solder, and lead paint. Lead paint in a home is typically the greatest risk for lead exposure for young children.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY PLUMBING FIXTURES HAVE LEAD OR LEAD SOLDER IN THEM?

Some homes and buildings, especially those built before 1986 may have service lines and/or internal plumbing and fixtures that have lead. A licensed plumber can help figure out if you have lead material in your indoor plumbing. You can also use an EPA-approved lead test kit.

WHAT IS THE WESTFIELD DPW-WATER DIVISION DOING ABOUT LEAD IN MY WATER?

The Water Division uses effective corrosion control measures to reduce potential lead concentrations in drinking water and regularly tests our drinking water for lead. Corrosion control is a treatment process where small amounts of orthophosphates are added to the water. The treatment coats the inside of plumbing materials to prevent corrosion of metals, including lead. The Water Division's drinking water has not exceeded the U.S. EPA's lead and copper action levels for the past several decades.

HOW DOES LEAD GET INTO DRINKING WATER?

Lead can get into drinking water from the plumbing inside your building or the service line between the street and your house. When water sits in the service line or your building's plumbing without use for many hours, such as overnight, the lead may dissolve into the water.

When water leaves Westfield DPW-Water Division's water treatment plants, it does not have lead. The Water Division’s water mains in the street that take water from the treatment plants are made mostly of ductile iron or cast iron. The mains do not add lead to the drinking water. So, the best way to stop lead from getting into your drinking water is replacing the water service line, is it is made of lead or galvanized steel, and older plumbing and fixtures in your home.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A LEAD OR GALVANIZED STEEL SERVICE?

Westfield DPW-Water Division has completed the initial service line materials inventory of its water system. You can look up your address on an interactive map to learn if we know the material of your service line. If your service line material is unknown, you can learn and report your line material by following these steps.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF MY SERVICE LINE IS GALVANIZED STEEL IF IT'S NOT LEAD?

Galvanized service lines were a common material used for plumbing in many older homes. These service lines are dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. The protective coating on the galvanized pipe can react with lead particles in water which could cause them to settle in the pipe. Any residual particles could dissolve back into the water in the future and be carried downstream into the home or building.

The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions require the Westfield DPW-Water Division to inventory all galvanized service lines and identify those which may have been impacted by lead upstream at any time in the history of the service line installation. The draft Lead and Copper Rule Improvements proposes to require all of these types of galvanized service lines, called galvanized requiring replacement (GRR), to be removed as part of the City’s lead service line replacement program. GRRs are treated the same as lead service lines.

HOW DO I FIND WHERE THE WATER SERVICE LINE IS ON MY PROPERTY?

For homes in Westfield DPW-Water Division's service area, your service line begins where the water pipe connects to your water meter. You can find your water service line by looking for this location in your basement where the service line comes up out of the ground and connects to your meter.

IF MY HOME'S PLUMBING HAS LEAD PARTS (SERVICE LINE, SOLDER, ETC.) HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF RIGHT NOW?

If you think you have lead parts, flush your system by running cold water for about 3-5 minutes whenever the water in your home has not been used for more than 6 hours. A licensed plumber can replace pipes that have lead solder or lead parts with lead-free pipes or fixtures. You can also add a faucet filter or pitcher filter for your drinking and cooking water that is National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) 42- and 53-certified to remove lead and replace the filter following the manufacturer’s instructions. Visit the National Sanitation Foundation website to learn more about water filters.

IF MY SERVICE LINE IS LEAD OR GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, WILL THE CITY HELP ME WITH REPLACING IT?

If you do have a lead or galvanized service line, Westfield DPW-Water Division will give you steps to protect your health and communicate with customers about their options for replacement.

HOW CAN LEAD AFFECT MY HEALTH?

According to the U.S. EPA, there is no safe level of lead that can be consumed or ingested. Exposure to high levels of lead is a serious health risk. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children, pregnant women, and unborn babies. Amounts of lead that may not seriously harm adults can slow down children's normal mental and physical development, particularly those under 6 years old. Visit the CDC's website for more information on lead poisoning prevention.

HOW CAN I DECREASE LEAD EXPOSURE IN MY DRINKING WATER?

If you have a lead water service line or internal plumbing or fixtures with lead, you can take many steps to decrease your lead exposure in drinking water, including:

Buying a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)-Certified home water treatment device, faucet, or pitcher filter that removes lead. The device must be both NSF 42- and NSF 53-certified to remove lead and be replaced following the manufacturer’s instructions. A faucet mounted filter or pitcher filter is recommended, over a whole house filtration system because the water could pick up lead from sources inside the home after the filtration system. The faucet mounted filter and pitcher filters remove lead immediately before the water is consumed. Visit this website to learn more about water filters.
Buying plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, sinks, hose bibs, etc.) that have zero- or low-lead content meeting the current "lead-free" requirements. Read the labels of any new plumbing fixtures closely.
Running tap water for about 5 minutes before you use it for drinking or cooking if the water has gone unused for more than 6 hours. This flushes the standing water and gets fresh water from the water main pipe.
Using fresh, cold, running water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.
Removing and cleaning faucet screens and aerators every 3 months.
Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water does not remove lead and can instead increase the concentration of lead in water.

CAN I SHOWER IN LEAD-CONTAMINATED WATER?

Yes. Human skin does not absorb lead in water. Bathing and showering are safe.