Water Service Line Inventory

Overview

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance to help water systems comply with the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) requirement to prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials. The EPA mandate impacts all public and private water utility services of 2-inch diameter or less, in the United States.

The Town of Blacksburg’s Water Service Line Inventory program was developed in response to the LCRR. Staff is currently working with CHA Consulting, Inc. under the guidance of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to conduct the required inventory of lead water service lines within the town limits. This inventory includes both Town-owned and customer-owned lines.

Blacksburg has 10,119 utility customers. The inventory has verified through the use of historical data 6,668 Town-owned and 6,581 customer-owned lead-free lines. The remaining service lines are designated as “unknown.”

Statistical Method Modeling

The Town will utilize the VDH-approved Statistical Method Modeling, based on the number of “unknown” service line types, to determine whether there are lead service lines within the Town. This approach uses a statistical sample size equation to calculate the number of Town-owned and customer-owned lines that will require physical verification of the pipe material. The verification process consists of excavating the Town-owned service lines at the water meter and visual inspection of customer-owned lines where it enters a building. This verification process must be completed and a report delivered to VDH no later than October 16, 2024.

Initial Water Service Line Inventory Complete

The Town of Blacksburg has completed its Water Service Line Inventory. Preliminary results indicate that as of October 14, 2024, there are no lead service lines in the town-owned or customer-owned sections of the Town water system.

Water Service Line Citizen Survey

The Town of Blacksburg is asking citizens to participate in a voluntary survey to document the material of their water service line from the water meter to just inside the home or business. The information gathered from this survey will assist in completing the Town's EPA-mandated lead service line inventory map.

Key highlights of the Blacksburg Water Service Line Inventory

To date, no lead service lines were identified in the Town-owned or customer-owned sections of the system.
Blacksburg water quality exceeds federal and state standards and lead levels are well below regulatory requirements.
Lead service lines have been prohibited by Virginia's plumbing code since 1979.
Water customers with unknown or galvanized service line material requiring replacement will receive notification via mail.