Unknown Utility-Side Service Line Letter

YOUR WATER SERVICE LINE MAY CONTAIN LEAD.

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE AND
SHARE WITH ANYONE USING WATER AT THIS PROPERTY.

PROPERTY MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO POST AND
SHARE WITH RESIDENTS AND TENANTS.

This letter serves as your annual notification regarding your water service line material, as recorded by WSSC Water. You will continue to receive these notices each year until WSSC Water verifies that your service line is non-lead. Please read this letter carefully, as some information has been updated from the initial notification last year.

WSSC Water is proud to implement the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule, an important national public health initiative to remove lead from America’s drinking water. This multi-year rule focuses on identifying water service line pipe materials, including those that are customer owned, on private property.

We have been reviewing plumbing records dating back more than 100 years and created an inventory of the materials used for water service lines, which are the pipes that carry water from WSSC Water’s water main to your property. A portion of the water service line is utility owned while the other portion is customer owned, as demonstrated in the following drawing.

The service line runs from the water main to the property receiving water. WSSC Water is responsible for the portion of the service line that connects to the water main and runs to the property line. The customer-owned portion of the service line is the part that runs from the property line into the home.

Our records review identified your customer-owned service line as non-lead. However, our records review did not identify the pipe material for the utility-owned service line. WSSC Water will begin verifying our service line pipe material starting early 2026. The verification entails carefully digging down to the service line, usually in the yard, and exposing enough of the pipe to identify the pipe material. After pipe verification is complete, we will restore the area to a condition that closely matches its original state.

We will let you know what we find and answer any questions. If we find lead on the WSSC Water-owned portion of the water service line, we will coordinate with you and replace that portion of pipe (including basic restoration) at no charge to you. We’ll assist before, during and after the replacement and provide guidance on flushing, sampling and filtering your water to ensure small lead particles are not present in your drinking water. We’ll also provide a pitcher filter for all water used for drinking, cooking and making ice or baby formula.

STEPS TO REDUCE LEAD IN DRINKING WATER

These steps are recommended to reduce lead exposure in drinking water. This isn't a full list, and some actions may reduce lead in water more than others.

Use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited certifier to reduce lead, which is effective in reducing lead exposure (ANSI 53).
Clean your faucet aerators to get rid of sediment, debris and possible lead particles.
Use cold water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula, as lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Note: Boiling water does not remove lead.
Run the cold-water tap for approximately five minutes after the water sits six hours or longer before use to flush water through the service line and plumbing. Taking a shower, running the dishwasher or flushing the toilet also will flush your lines.
For more information on lead, visit EPA's website at epa.gov/lead.

TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH

Even if your water service line contains lead, that does not necessarily mean lead is present in your drinking water. WSSC Water carefully filters and expertly treats all drinking water to ensure safety and quality. Water leaving our filtration plants is lead free. To minimize the risk of lead dissolving into the water from plumbing materials, we add a corrosion inhibitor, orthophosphate, to the water supply to create a protective coating on the inside of pipes (including those on customer property).

HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems.

The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

If you have children, get your child tested to determine lead levels in their blood. Contact your local health department or healthcare providers to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.

FREE WATER TESTING

If you'd like to test your water for lead, we can send a kit for you to collect water samples that you'll return to us for free analysis. Please complete this form to request your kit. The analysis can take up to eight weeks from the date we receive your samples. We will contact you with the results.

MORE THAN A CENTURY OF PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH

For more than 107 years, WSSC Water has taken proactive steps to ensure water quality and safety. Our water meets all the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act standards, and we’ve never had a drinking water quality violation. Additionally, our latest round of lead and copper testing results were well below the EPA action levels. Read our Water Quality Report to learn more.

We understand that learning your water service line may contain lead can be concerning. Please email PipeType@wsscwater.com, call 301-206-7200 or visit wsscwater.com/pipetype if you have questions or need more information. We are here to help

Sincerely, 
Bilal Sarayra, P.E.
Lead Service Line Replacement Program Manager
PipeType@wsscwater.com

Last Modified: December 17, 2025, 10:05 am EST