Do you know the material of your water service line?
In the coming weeks New Jersey American Water customers with unknown water service line material will receive a letter with helpful information about how to identify and report the material of the line that brings water into their homes. It’s part of our commitment to replace all lead and galvanized steel service lines in our service area by 2031.
FAQs
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You are receiving this letter because according to our records, the material of your water service line (a pipe that connects a customer’s house or building to the water main in the street) is unknown.
As required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New Jersey American Water must notify property owners with unknown service line material annually via direct mail until their service line is identified and/or replaced (if needed). This notification will follow the company’s annual July inventory submission to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
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Customers will find more information about the Lead Service Line Replacement program, why it’s important to work with New Jersey American Water on this effort, and a required notice from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection regarding the unknown status of their service line material and additional steps to reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water.
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Nothing! If you recently self-identified and submitted your results, your status may not have been updated before we printed and mailed the letters. Thank you for working with us on this important effort.
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Yes, New Jersey American Water regularly tests for lead in drinking water and the water delivered to customers continues to meet state and federal water quality regulations, including those set for lead. Lead is rarely found in drinking water itself; it enters tap water when materials that contain lead, such as service lines and household plumbing fixtures like faucets, break down.
If a service line is confirmed to be lead or galvanized steel, New Jersey American Water will work with you to replace the service line at no additional cost. In the meantime, customers can still use their water as they normally would.
Additionally, New Jersey American Water will begin providing pitcher filters to customers after every lead or galvanized steel service line replacement statewide, along with the company’s information packet that includes helpful installation and flushing instructions. While pitcher filter distribution to customers after these replacements will be required by U.S. EPA regulations under the updated Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), New Jersey American Water is starting to distribute pitchers filters in September of 2024, ahead of schedule.
These filters provide an extra layer of protection during the transition period after a service line is replaced. It's part of our commitment to proactively safeguard our customers' health and ensure compliance with federal regulations.