EPA Mandated Water Pipe Inventory
Nationwide, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandating that public water systems inventory water service lines and pipes, specifically checking for any that may be made of or have been previously connected to lead. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Anticipating this directive, over the last three years the Town’s Public Works team has been inventorying water pipes throughout Town to determine pipe material and confirm that our system does not contain lead. After that extensive work, there are still about 1,145 properties where the water pipe material is unknown or that have galvanized pipes that may have previously been connected to lead.
To meet EPA requirements, for those properties where Public Works cannot determine water pipe material or if pipes have been identified as galvanized, the Town recently sent out two letters to property owners on this topic. These letters are not a notice of lead in the water. If you did not receive a letter about your property, this does not pertain to your water pipes and no action is required. The EPA requires specific language be included in these letters about the negative health impacts of lead. It is unlikely that anyone in our community has concerning levels of lead in their water pipes, but it is important to complete necessary requirements to ensure this is the case.
One letter, which most recipients received, shares that property owners’ pipe material is ‘unknown.’ Anyone that received this letter should fill out the survey linked through the QR code provided and share pictures of their water pipe coming into their water meter. If you are unable to determine your water pipe’s material, indicate that on the survey and a Public Works employee will contact you to verify your water pipe material.
The second letter, which went to a much smaller group of property owners, highlights that Public Works is aware those property’s pipes are galvanized, which means they may have previously been connected to lead. The Town recommends property owners that received this letter test their water and share the results with Public Works. Test kits are available here: https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-test-kits.
Again, it is unlikely that anyone in our community has concerning levels of lead in their water, but it is important to complete necessary requirements if you have received a letter. Community members that have not received a letter from Public Works do not need to take any action. The Town does not have any known lead water pipes or service lines in our water system.
Please direct questions to the Town’s Water Manager, Dan Stewart at dstewart@jacksonwy.gov or
307-733-3079 Ext. 1430.