Lead Water Line Check for Arbutus Homes: Free County Help

If a letter from Baltimore County about your water service line showed up in your mailbox, don't panic. The county is mailing yearly notices to customers whose lines are listed as lead, galvanized needing replacement, or simply unknown, and it says over 99 percent of the notices are for lines that just haven't been identified yet. The county will help you find out what your line is made of for free, and it replaces lines that need replacing at no cost.

Why is Baltimore County sending water service line letters?

The Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation is mailing the notices because of the federal EPA Lead and Copper Rule, which requires water systems to identify lead service lines and plan to replace them. Your service line is the pipe that brings water from the main in the street into your home.

Letters only go to addresses listed in the Baltimore Service Line Partnership Inventory as "Lead," "Galvanized Requiring Replacement" or "Unknown." The county says early findings suggest lead service lines are uncommon in Baltimore County.

What does my line's status mean?

Notices only go to those three groups, so a home whose line is already listed as a material that doesn't need replacement won't get one.

How can I find out what my water line is made of?

The county's Lead Reduction Program offers three free ways to check:

• Fill out a self-reporting survey. The county has tutorial videos that show how to find your service line and do a simple scratch and magnet test.
• Schedule a free in-home inspection. Call the Lead Reduction Program at 410-887-1368 or email waterserviceline@baltimorecountymd.gov.
• Allow a small test pit. If the line can't be identified from inside, county crews can dig a small test pit near the outside water meter. The county said these test pits were expected to begin this fall.

The county is also paying participating plumbers, lead inspectors and home inspectors to report service line materials during their normal visits, at no cost to you. Ask your plumber or inspector if they take part in the Service Line Identification Partnership.

Does the county really replace lead lines for free?

Yes. The county says its Lead Reduction Program offers free replacement of all water service lines that require replacement under the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule. That is a big deal for homeowners, since replacing a service line on your own can be a real expense.

What does this mean for homeowners, buyers and sellers?

If you are buying a home in Arbutus, ask your home inspector whether they participate in the county's partnership. They may be able to identify the line during the inspection, which gives you one less question mark. If you are getting ready to sell, getting an "Unknown" line identified ahead of time is an easy way to answer a buyer's question before it comes up. My Sell Your Home page has more tips, and if you want to keep checking off the homework, read how to see whether your Arbutus home is in a flood zone and my post on the drought and Susquehanna water in our taps.

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