Winthrop Harbor Public Work's

How to Identify your

Water Service Line Material

How to Identify your Water Service Line Material

Lead Services Inventory and Replacement Act

In August 2021, Governor Pritzker signed into law the Lead Services Inventory and Replacement Act mandating the replacement of all lead service lines in the state. Having a lead water service should be a concern but not a panic.

The Lead Service Line Notification Act now requires public water suppliers in Illinois, including the Village of Winthrop Harbor, to replace all lead service lines within the community from the watermain to the water meter in the home. A portion of the service line is on the residents' property and owned by residents.

The Village is in the process of developing a lead service line replacement plan for the community. This effort will require resident cooperation so the Village can compile a complete inventory of all homes with confirmed lead service lines. This is why completing the lead service line questionnaire is so important.

Village of Winthrop Harbor Lead Services Line Replacement Plan

The State of Illinois requires the replacement of all lead service lines per the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (415ILCS5/17.12). Per the Illinois statute, the Village must create a multi-year approach to replace all the privately-owned lead service lines in the Village.

As a first step, the Village has created an inventory of suspected lead service lines in Winthrop Harbor. The Village will mail homeowners letters with information on how to perform a self-survey or schedule inspections to verify the status of suspected lead service lines. Village of Winthrop Harbor Lead Services Line Replacement Plan.

We Need Your Help

The Village of Winthrop Harbor is encouraging all customers who own structures built in 1988 or earlier, to check the water service line in their homes or businesses. This can be done by completing the four steps in the sections below.

Your assistance in filling out this survey could eliminate the need for the Village to schedule a site visit at your home in the future! We request your participation by having you complete the survey in its entirety as soon as possible.

Once the inventory is complete, the Village will finalize a plan for these replacements.

Informational Video

Steps to Identify a Lead Water Service Pipe

Follow the steps on this page to perform a self-identification of your service line. Use the photographs to help determine your

water service line material.

Step #1

Locate the water service line entering the building. This is typically found in the basement. A valve and the water meter are installed on the pipe after the point of entry.

Identify a test area on the pipe between the point where it enters the building and the valve. If the pipe is covered or wrapped, expose a small area of metal.

Step #2

Scratch the surface of the pipe. Use the flat edge of a screwdriver to scratch through any corrosion that may have built up on the outside of the pipe.

Step #3

Compare your pipe to the chart below. Each type of pipe will produce a different type of scratch, react differently to the magnet, and produce a unique sound when tapped with a metal coin. DO NOT use a knife or other sharp instrument.

Lead Pipe

Scratch Test - If the scraped area is shiny and silver, the pipe is lead.
Magnet Test – A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe
Tapping Test – Tapping a lead pipe with a coin will produce a dull noise

Lead pipe will be a dull silver, or blue-gray in color. Lead pipe will be shiny when scratched. Lead pipe is not magnetic, so a magnet will not stick to it.

Copper Pipe

Scratch Test – If the scraped area is copper in color, like a penny, the pipe is copper.
Magnet Test – A magnet will not stick to a copper pipe.
Tapping Test – Tapping a copper pipe with a coin will produce a metallic ringing noise.

Copper pipe may be shiny, like a new penny, or orange/brown in color. When scratched it will shine like a new penny. Copper pipe is not magnetic, so a magnet will not stick to it

Galvanized Pipe

Scratch Test – If the scraped area remains a dull gray, the pipe is galvanized steel.
Magnet Test – A magnet sticks to a galvanized pipe.
Tapping Test – Tapping a galvanized pipe with a coin will produce a metallic ringing noise.

Galvanized steel pipe may be shiny or dull, silver or gray in color, and shiny like a new nickel when scratched. A magnet will stick to it.

Step #4

Let us know what kind of water pipes you have by completing the electronic inventory form using the button to the right.

Download a paper form to print out CLICK HERE

Water Service Line Material Inventory Interactive Map

How to Reduce Exposure to Lead

If you have lead plumbing or a lead service line in your house, but cannot have it replaced at this time, below are some steps you can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.

Run your water to flush out the lead before drinking. If you haven’t used water in your house for several hours, run your water to flush out the pipes before using the water for drinking or cooking.
Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula. Never use water from the hot water tap for cooking or drinking. Water from the hot water tap has higher lead levels than water from the cold tap. If you need hot water, take water from the cold tap, and heat it on your stove. As a reminder, boiling water does not remove lead.
Remove and clean your faucet aerator regularly. The faucet aerator is the screen located on your faucet where the water comes out. Over time, lead particles and other debris can collect on the aerator and can cause lead to leach into your water. Remove and clean your aerator regularly. While cleaning your aerator, run the water through your faucet to flush out the debris. Once clean, reinstall the aerator.
Consider using a water filter certified to remove lead. The water filter should be certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 53 to remove lead. Follow the filter instructions for proper filter installation and for filter cartridge replacement requirements. Avoid using cartridges that have expired. For more information on filters certified to reduce lead see link below: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/documents/consumer_tool_for_identifying_drinking_water_filters_certified_to_reduce_lead.pdf
Use an alternative water source for drinking and cooking.

Questions and Additional Resources

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the following:

Tim Neargarder - Direct Line 847-872-5275 ext. 6010 - Email tneargarder@winthropharbor.com

Debra Melesio - Direct Line 847-872-3846 ext 1013 - dmelesio@whpd.org

Additional Resources to Learn More

If you are interested in learning more about lead, lead service lines, and/or Illinois laws for lead service lines, please see the links below for additional information.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Basic information about lead in drinking water:

https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Infographic on lead in drinking water: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-08/documents/epa_lead_in_drinking_water_final_8.21.17.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Plumbing Products: https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100LVYK.txt

Illinois Department of Health: Lead Service Lines and Illinois Laws: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/lead-in-water/lead-service-lines.html

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency: Lead Service Line Inventory Information:

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/drinking-water/public-water-users/lead-service-line-information.html

State of Illinois Lead Service Line Notification Act (Public Act 102-0613)

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/102/102-0613.htm

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