Service Line Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently revised regulations regarding lead and copper monitoring for Pennsylvania Public Water Suppliers (PWS). Since the Upper Halfmoon Water Company (UHWC) is a regulated PWS, we need to abide by the new regulations. The new regulations require the UHWC to implement a “service line inventory” to ensure that there are no service lines containing lead. The water service line is the small diameter pipe which taps off from the larger water main, goes through an outside shut-off valve (usually found at the edge of your property), and then into your home. 

The UHWC has over 620 customers and each one has to be inventoried.  By October 2024, the UHWC needs to complete its initial inventory and report the results to DEP.  Annual inventory updates will be provided to DEP thereafter.   

Since January 1991, the use of lead in service lines was banned by EPA and DEP as part of the No Lead Rule, so homes built prior to 1991 will be our priority in this inventory. If any service lines are found to contain lead, they will eventually need to be replaced. 

During normal operations (line installation, meter replacements, service line replacements etc.), the UHWC has never encountered a lead service line.  We do not expect to find any during this inventory.

For many homes, especially those built prior 1991 and adoption of the No Lead Rule, we will need to conduct an in-home inspection of the service line where it enters your home to determine it's material type, and collect a water sample that will be tested for the presence of lead. You will be provided with results of all tests.