Water System Lead Service Line Identification

The City is currently conducting a review of water service line materials in the City’s water distribution system. A service line is the pipe that brings water from the water main in the street into a building, and generally consists of two parts; the “public” side, which runs from the water main to the curb stop (shutoff valve near the sidewalk or property line) and the “private” side, which runs from the curb stop into the building. In our water system, the Water Division is responsible for the “public” portion of the service line, while the property owner is typically responsible for the “private” portion, generally separated by the curb stop. In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent Lead and Copper Rule Revisions requirements, we are currently reviewing available installation and repair records, characteristics like the age of your home, and information on water mains that serve customers, to conduct a comprehensive water service inventory to report to EPA. Our first inventory submission deadline is October 16, 2024. 

What is lead?

Lead is a common naturally occurring metallic element that can be found in air, soil, and water. It is also a powerful toxin that is harmful to human health. Lead was commonly used in gasoline and paint until the 1970s and is still sometimes found in products such as ceramics, batteries, ammunition, and cosmetics. Lead was used for centuries in plumbing because of its pliability and resistance to leaks; in fact, lead’s chemical symbol, Pb, is derived from the Latin word for plumbing.

ServiceLineDiagram

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water?

Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water.

In 1986, U.S. Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to prohibit the use of pipes, solder, or flux that were not “lead-free.” At the time lead-free was defined as solder and flux with no more than .2% lead and pipes with no more than 8%. In 2014, the maximum allowable lead content was reduced from not more than 8% to not more than a weighted average of 0.25% of the wetted surface of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures.

City of Gahanna’s Lead Status

The drinking water from the City of Gahanna’s water sources is lead-free!


However, if buildings have water pipes made of lead or plumbing containing lead, there is a risk of having lead get into the water. This is important for customers to understand because customers must be engaged in solutions to reduce the risk of lead exposure!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The risk of lead exposure will vary from home to home. In some homes, the risk may be from lead-based paint. This continues to be the primary area of concern by public health agencies and the Centers for Disease Control. 

Searchable Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Map

The LSLI searchable inventory map provides customer information about the water service line serving their home or business. Click on the image of the map below to open it. Next, follow the instructions on the map or below to search for your property and learn more about your water service line.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Gahanna Searchable Lead Service Line Map

To Use The Map

  •  Click on the image of the map to open
  • Use the looking glass icon in the top right corner to open the search window
  • Type in a property address to view details
  • Click on the symbol shown
  • Confirm the correct address is showing in the details page
  • View the details about the lead category and pipe material for the property selected

There are 4 classifications for the lead category on the property details:

  • Service lines classified as non-lead may be made of copper, PVC, or galvanized material that does not require replacement.
  • Service lines classified as unknown have not been confirmed.
  • Service lines classified as lead are made of lead.
  • Service lines classified as galvanized requiring replacement means the pipe is made of galvanized material and has been located downstream of a lead line at some point since installation.

*NOTE – If the utility side of the service line is lead and the customer side is non-lead it will show as lead on the map. Only one symbol shows on the map for each property. Click on the symbol to open the details and view information for both sides of the service line.