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Lead and Copper Program
Help the city determine your water service line material. See the resources below on how to test your water service line. Once you've determined the material of your service line, complete our online survey.
South Salt Lake Water is committed to ensuring safe and clean drinking water flows to all homes within our water district. The Lead and Copper Program is part of a federal regulation to identify and replace lead in both City and residential service lines.
As required by the EPA, the City recently conducted a random sampling of nearly 400 homes that met certain criteria to test levels of lead service lines. If any homes tested positive for lead in their water service line from our survey, the homeowner was notified and provided options for mitigating or replacing the line.
Click here to view the final Lead and Copper Survey Inventory Report.
Water Service Line Letter
Letters were mailed to all South Salt Lake Water customers on December 17, 2024 notifying them we do not know what material their water service line is made of. To better help water customers understand the purpose of this letter and what it means, we created an FAQ to address some questions.
Why did I receive this letter titled “Notice of Unknown Drinking Water Service Line Material”?
As part of the Lead and Copper Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency, all water providers, including South Salt Lake City Water System, must notify customers if they have lead service lines or service lines of unknown material. This letter is to inform you we do not know the material of your water service line.
The letter says you’re not testing, but you tested and determined my line is unknown? (or) I didn't see you test my line.
Two actions were taking in 2024: 1) we asked residents to test their own lines and complete an online survey, and 2) the city tested 386 properties at random to determine service line material. Any properties where we did not receive a completed survey or that were not tested by the city are listed as "unknown material." This is why you may have received the letter. NOTE: The city is only testing service lines to determine if they contain lead; the city does test our city water annually and you can view annual water quality reports here.
Does this mean I have Lead pipes?
Not necessarily. The city does not know what your water service line is made of. We do encourage you to test your water line to ensure it is not lead. Lead can be harmful and you should take steps to remove lead water lines if you have them on your property. See below for helpful resources on how to test your water service line.
What am I responsible for?
South Salt Lake Water customers are responsible for the portion of the water line that runs from the City water main to your home. Normally, this is the line that runs from the meter at the sidewalk or parking strip through your yard and into your home.
How do I know if I have lead water pipes?
Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead water service lines than newer homes. We recommend you locate where the water service line enters your home (normally the basement or crawl space), and test the line at this point. See below for helpful resources on how to test your water service line.
What should I do if I have a lead water service line?
So far, no lead pipes have been found in the state of Utah. However, if your pipe is determined to be lead the EPA recommends replacing it. Property owners are responsible for replacing lines from the meter to their home, while the city replaces lines up to the meter. The EPA currently offers funding for line replacement and additional funding opportunities are expected in the future. Click here to visit the EPA website and learn more.
I already filled out the survey and submitted it.
Thank you! However, we can only use submissions that include pictures of the service line. If your submission did not have pictures, we cannot verify the service line. Additionally, some entries may have been missed during the initial data import. Please resubmit your pictures and information through the survey.
I already replaced my service line.
That’s great news! Please take pictures of the new pipe and upload them via this survey link. This will help the city meet the EPA's inventory requirements.
I don’t use the internet so I can’t take the survey and upload pictures.
No problem! The city will inventory all unknown service lines. If you are unable or choose not to test your service line yourself, the city will test it for you in order to comply with EPA regulation. The city will pothole through the meter box, which minimizes surface disruption to the landscape. Please note that the area will be blue-staked and markings may temporarily appear on your landscape and sidewalks.
Can you test our water?
Yes, we can test your water. However, water is tested annually and you can view water quality reports here. If you still feel testing is necessary after reviewing the report, we can create a work order to test your water after the start of the new year. NOTE: the city will not go into your home and test your water; we will test it at the meter.
Why did SSL Conduct a Lead & Copper Survey (Water Service Line Inventory)?
From January to October 2024, the City of South Salt Lake conducted an inventory of water service lines in our community, as mandated by the federal government. South Salt Lake maintains records of all city distribution lines, and the primary material of those lines is ductile iron and PVC. However, the city does not possess records of private homeowner service lines. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required all water providers to submit this information as part of the EPA Lead & Copper Rule, designed to reduce lead in drinking water. The purpose was to determine how much lead service line is in use across the country, to provide education about this risk to homeowners, and to provide resources if homeowners need to replace lead lines.
Lead contamination in water can have serious health effects on kids and adults. Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child; specifically, lead has been linked to lowering the IQ scores of kids. For adults, lead contamination can increase high blood pressure and risk of heart disease.
Lead can enter drinking water from natural deposits, but it primarily enters the water when pipes and plumbing fixtures that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content. Some common sources of lead can include pipes, solder, brass plumbing fixtures, faucets, and pipe fittings. These lead service lines and fixtures are more likely to be found in homes built before 1986 and are the largest contributor of lead in drinking water.
A water service line is the piping that connects your interior plumbing to the city water main, which is a shared line. If it contains lead piping, it is considered to be a lead service line. Typically, from the meter to the house is the homeowner’s responsibility, and from the meter to the main is the city’s responsibility. South Salt Lake maintains records of all city distribution lines, and the primary material of these lines is ductile iron and PVC. However, the city does not possess records of private homeowner service lines.
It is the shared responsibility of SSL Water and property owners to protect from lead in drinking water. It’s important to note that SSL drinking water supplied from our treatment plants through the water mains to your home is free from lead contamination. The city is proactive in taking steps to replace old water pipes and conducts rigorous water testing in accordance with state and federal regulations. Annual SSL Water Quality Reports are published for public access. SSL Water is not responsible for the private piping inside your home and up to your water meter. This is where we need your help in identifying what kind of service line you have in your home.
There are a few ways to help you identify your water service line materials: scratch test, magnet test, calling a plumber. Here are some resources for helping you check your service line.
- Service Line Testing Instructional Video (courtesy of our friends at Sandy City)
- NPR's step-by-step interactive guide (remember this refers to the main shutoff in your house, not the city water main to your home)
- EPA's Protect Your Tap step-by-step guide
- SSL's downloadable guide
Help the city determine your water service line material. Once you've used the identification resources above to figure out what your service line is made of, snap some photos and fill out the survey.