- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Utilities & Maintenance Services
- Water Utility Services
Water Utility Services
Lead and Copper Inventory
Water systems are required to complete an inventory of drinking water service line materials by October 16, 2024, in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lead and copper regulations. The City of Marysville has completed its inventory, and all service lines have been determined to be non-lead for the purposes of the inventory. The City’s comprehensive review found no lead, or galvanized requiring replacement service lines. Additionally, the inventory does not contain any lead status unknown service lines.
Initially, the City utilized various methodologies, including records review, evaluation of post-1986 construction and assessment of larger pipe diameters, to determine material composition. No lead service lines were identified during those reviews. Subsequently, the City employed Washington State’s approved statistical method, achieving a minimum 95 percent confidence level that there are no lead service lines in the system. The City verified the material of a random subset of service lines classified as “unknown material” and found that none contained lead. Based on these 368 verifications and standard statistical calculations, there is over 95 percent probability that no lead service lines exist within the system.
The City remains committed to documenting the material type of service lines uncovered during construction or maintenance activities and is prepared to adjust its approach as new data becomes available.
Lead and Copper Inventory Map
Click here to view map application.
In 1991, the EPA published a new rule to control lead and copper in drinking water systems called the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). In 2021, EPA revised the rule, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), and as part of that revision, water systems are required to inventory their water service line materials and report their findings to the Department of Health. EPA has subsequently submitted additional proposals to revise the LCRR, with what will be the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).
Records Search:
- Historical City ordinances and Municipal Codes
- Record drawings and system improvement designs
- Water main installation and service line replacement documentation
- Historical water system maps and documents dating from 1921 - 1986
- City storeroom material annual inventory records
A section of a six-inch wood water main with a service tap. This section of main would have been installed circa 1920’s to 1950’s. The water service installation on this sample is of a brass direct tapped corporation stop that is wood tap threads by copper flare. This indicated the City/Town was using copper goosenecks and or full copper services for this type of installation.
Interviews with Staff
Interviews with experienced water field staff were conducted to gather their historical knowledge of working in the water system. Staff indicated they have never run across a lead service line or a lead gooseneck in their time in the City of Marysville. These staff members represent a cross section of 27 years of institutional knowledge. Additionally, they recall working on galvanized water line replacements in the original city center where wood mains were replaced with cast iron and unearthed abandon galvanized services that were piped directly into the wood mains with a wood corporation stop.
Lead Water Analysis
To date, the City of Marysville has met or exceeded drinking water standards for lead and copper compliance. This level of testing across these highly likely sites that would contain lead points towards a formidable assumption if lead were present, the water chemistry does not have an adverse effect by permitting the lead to go into solution contaminating the drinking water.
Excavation Visual Inspection
City personnel have conducted more than 365 documented excavations. These excavations are part of the existing galvanized water service line replacement program targeting galvanized service line replacements. These excavations consisted of staff excavating in three locations on the water service lines at the property owners’ side of the service meter, City side of the service meter validating the materials would be part of the replacement program. These activities have not resulted in finding any lead service lines.
Additionally, as part of the City’s water service inventory project, a contractor was hired to inspect a random generated set of 368 water services at three locations, property owners’ side of water meter, city side of water meter and finally at the service line connection at the water main. In all the excavations, the inspections resulted in the lack of lead service lines or lead goosenecks being present.
Where does lead in drinking water come from?
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. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986. Among homes without lead service lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.
Responsibilities
The Utility Maintenance Division is responsible for operation and maintenance of the water distribution systems, including wells, reservoirs and pumping stations. The maintenance divisions is also tasked with reading all water meters as well as handling customer complaints / concerns regarding water. Utilities Operations divisions provide off-hour and weekend (standby) coverage for the water and sewer utility.
How do I start or stop service?
- Hydrant maintenance
- Line flushing
- Monthly reports
- Pipeline inspection
- Purity testing
- Record keeping
- Reservoir inspection and maintenance
- Sampling
- Valve exercising
- Well inspection (drawdown and production)
The Utility Construction Division is responsible for the installation of water services, main extensions, hydrants, valves and vaults. The division also replaces aging water mains and is tasked with utility locates.
Water Quality Division
The Water Quality Division is responsible for water quality sampling and testing per state Department of Health requirements. The division also produces an annual water quality report. This division's programs include the water conservation program, consumer confidence reports, and hydrant and water fill station use.