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 so far verified through the use of historical data 6,668 Town-owned and 6,581 and 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.

If no lead pipes are found during the sampling period, the Town will be considered lead free and in compliance-and no more action is required at this time. If lead pipes are uncovered during the random sampling, then we will be required to develop a plan for VDH approval to check all unknown pipes within the Town and replace lead pipes by October 2037.

• The Blacksburg Water Service Line Inventory was launched to proactively comply with EPA regulations.
• Service line inventory records currently show there are no known lead service lines in the Town's water system.
• Blacksburg water quality exceeds federal and state standards and lead levels are well below regulatory requirements.
• The field verification process will have very little impact on utility customers.
• Lead service lines have been prohibited in the Virginia plumbing code since 1979.

If you have a question about the town's Water Service Line Inventory, please submit it using the "Questions" box below: