Ashland City is committed to continually providing safe, high quality drinking water to our customers. Ashland City is working toward a lead-safe water system and is committed to protecting our customers' health from the potential hazards of lead and galvanized service lines. Utility lines are typically small-diameter pipes that branch off from larger water mains to serve individual customers' homes or businesses.
Replacing lead and galvanized water service lines over the years has placed Ashland City in good standing with the new EPA LCRR requirements, which went into effect on December 16, 2021 and must be in compliance by October 16, 2024.
Ashland City staff will inspect each meter where the home or business was constructed prior to the 1988 lead ban and perforate the service wire on each side (both city and customer side) of the meter box and identify the materials as follows: Lead, Not Lead or galvanized material that needs to be replaced. The data is available to all Ashland City customers at the public works department or water treatment plant. The letters will be sent to property owners in October and November.
Ashland City will replace all lead and galvanized pipes on the city side of the water meter, which will be an ongoing process. The customer/homeowner or property owner owns the private site and is responsible for replacing the private utility line from the water meter to the foundation of the home/building.
Ashland City Public Works and Ashland City Water Treatment Plant have the complete lead inventory list. If you have concerns or would like to know if your home or business has service lines on both sides of the water meter, please contact Public Works at (615) 792-7553 or the Water Treatment Plant at (615) 792-5750.
The City of Ashland Water Department is required to notify customers, non-paying consumers, and any off-site property owner (e.g., landlord) when a service line that may result in elevated lead exposure is identified.
If you plan to replace your service line, please contact (615) 792-5750 prior to replacement so we can coordinate our efforts. If your location has been identified as “unknown material,” please contact us to learn how to review the service line materials.
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Although most lead exposure comes from eating paint chips and inhaling dust or contaminated soil, the EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human lead exposure can come from lead in drinking water. Lead is rarely found in spring water, but gets into tap water through corrosion of piping materials. Homes built before 1988 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new houses are also at risk: even pipes that are legally labeled as “lead-free” can contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common source is brass and chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures, which can leach significant amounts of lead into water, especially hot water.
Exposure to lead can have serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children who drink water containing lead may experience a decline in IQ and attention span, as well as an increase in learning and behavioral problems. Recent scientific evidence suggests that adults who drink water containing lead are at increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney or nervous system problems.
Testing is essential because lead cannot be seen, tasted or smelled in drinking water. The Ashland City Water System regularly tests a subset of residences for lead and copper levels and other water quality parameters throughout the distribution system. Participation in sampling is voluntary and free of charge. If you are interested in participating in this program, please call (615) 792-5750.
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