Your Guide to Water Service Line Replacement
What is a water service line?
A water service line is the pipe that brings water from the water main in the street to the plumbing in your property. The portion of the service line from the water main to the water meter belongs to Salt Lake City Public Utilities (SLCDPU). The portion from the water meter to your home belongs to you. While the water we deliver to customers is lead-free, lead can get into the water as it passes through internal plumbing or a water service line that contains lead.
Water Service Line Replacement Timeline
This is the sequence of events for your upcoming water service line replacement. The steps are explained in detail down below.
Pre-replacement
onsite meeting
After your service line replacement
Day of water service line replacement
How to Reduce Exposure
Use certified filters and replace cartridges on time. Never use hot water with filters.
Learn about construction in your neighborhood
Nearby work may disturb lead service lines.
We'll notify you if your line is affected.
Clean your aerator regularly to remove lead and debris.
Have your water tested Contact SLCDPU or visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinkingwater/
basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
to request lead testing and more information.
Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead.
Run your water to flush the pipes, especially if water has been sitting.
Test your child's blood for lead. Ask your doctor or local health department about lead blood testing.
SLCDPU Lead and Copper Program
Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) Lead and Copper Program is dedicated to maintaining public health and safety.* The program includes the identification and replacement of services lines that are potential sources of lead in drinking water. We are also conducting extensive sampling, water quality monitoring, and public outreach.
* Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities is compliant with all federal rules and regulations for Lead and Copper.
Water Service Line Material Identification
Visit www.SLCLeadandCopper.gov to complete our water service line material identification survey.
Before replacement begins, we must first identify your water service line material. This may require a process called hydro-excavation, also known as "potholing," which uses a high-powered vacuum to excavate a small hole (approximately 12 inches wide and 5 feet deep) to safely expose the service line.
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Homes built before 1950, when lead pipes were common.
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Households that meet federal eligibility criteria for assistance programs.
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Neighborhoods with high density of susceptible populations.
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Homes that have participated in our lead line identification program through surveys and have confirmed lead service lines.
Prioritization for Service Line Replacement:
DO YOU HAVE A LEAD SERVICE LINE?
If you are a Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities customer and want to find out —Take our survey!
STEP 1
Pre-Replacement Meeting
We need your permission to access your property for the water service line inspection and replacement. Press the button below to sign the authorization form today. If you are unable to access the form for any reason, we can provide you with another way to sign the form — just let us know!
What to Expect:
• No work will be performed during this initial visit.
• Our team will confirm that you (or your designee) have signed the consent form that allowsproperty access for the service line replacement.
• Before replacing your water service line, we will excavate a small hole between the watermeter and your house to confirm the material of your service line.
• Property owners must provide safe, lighted, and unencumbered access to the water meterand to the service line inside the property, including access to the basement, crawlspace, wallor floor area where the service line enters the building. Please contain pets and move anyitems blocking access, such as boxes, furniture, washers, dryers, etc.
• Our team will review the replacement process, answer your questions, provide a water pitcher, and discuss next steps.
• If you need translation services, please request them at least 72 hours in advance to your meeting time.
STEP 2
Day of Water Service Line Replacement
During the service line replacement visit, crews will need to enter your property for several hours to begin and complete the replacement process. If your consent form is unsigned, our team will be unable to begin work on your service line replacement.
What to Expect:
• Crews will need access to your property during the scheduled replacement. The property owner or designee, at least 18 years old, must remain at the property for the duration of the replacement.
• We will have to turn off your water to complete the replacement process. Most service lines can be replaced within eight hours. We recommend storing enough water for the day ahead of water turn off.
•If the meter and/or service line is located behind a finished wall, or under a finished floor, the property owner is responsible for removing the obstruction and establishing access to perform the work.
• We will clean up any messes created and will restore any disrupted ground in the back and/or front yard to a level surface, and reseed grass, generally within a four-month time frame.
• After installation, our team will conduct a thorough inspection of the line to verify correct installation and material use before burying.
Here's what you need to know immediately following the replacement:
• During the water service line replacement process, debris can get trapped in interior plumbing. Crews will flush the new water service line using outside taps to remove any debris.
• Crews will also review instructions for flushing internal plumbing and perform an initial flush with you. They will leave instructions for you to continue daily flushing for 30 days following replacement.
STEP 3
After Your Service Line Replacement
Your water service line has been replaced with a non-lead material. You should flush the water in your home on the day of the replacement and in the months following your service line replacement to reduce your risk of lead exposure from lead particles that may have been dislodged during construction or that remain in your interior plumbing.
• Once your new water service line is installed, it's the property's owner responsibility for maintaining the plumbing from the water meter into the home, as well as all interior pipes. The contractor will provide a one-year warranty for the replaced service line.
• We offer free water sampling 3 to 6 months after replacement to test for the presence of lead. Please contact us to request a water sample kit. If the results show the presence of lead, it may indicate other potential sources within your home, such as older interior plumbing or fixtures.
• After the replacement, lead levels may be temporarily elevated. Please continue using the provided water pitcher and use filtered water for drinking, cooking, and preparing infant formula for six months following the replacement. The provided water pitcher is effective for up to six months.
• Flush your water system. If water has been sitting for several hours, run your faucet for 5 minutes before drinking or cooking. You can also reduce waste by showering or washing dishes to flush the lines.
• Clean your aerator. Please clean your faucet aerators monthly for the next six months. See the Aerator Cleaning Guide for step-by-step instructions.