For the past year, the City of Reidsville and its contracted engineering firm, Black & Veatch, have been researching service lines throughout the City’s water distribution system. By October of 2024, all water distribution systems in the United States, including municipalities like the City of Reidsville, were mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete a lead service line inventory of all water connections.
During this time, Black & Veatch has been working with the City’s Public Works Department to identify all of its City-maintained service lines to determine what type of material comprises these water lines. Thus far, we have not found any City-maintained lines comprised of lead materials.
The next step is to identify the materials used in the service lines on residents’ private property. These private lines hook into the City’s water system and then provide service to the home, building or structure on the resident and/or business owner’s property. The concern is that these service lines may contain lead or galvanized pipe, which is known to cause serious health effects in all age groups. If the City has been unable to determine what type of materials were used to connect between the City-maintained line and the homeowner/business owner’s property, the resident/business owner will be receiving a letter from the City asking for their assistance.
The City of Reidsville is focused on protecting the health of each household in our community, which is why it is so important that residents help determine if their service lines contain lead or galvanized pipe. To assist in identifying the materials used in their private service lines, property owners should do the following:
Contact the Reidsville Public Works Department at 336-349-1070 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Review the EPA’s step-by-step guide to help people identify lead pipes in their homes called Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead, which is available at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/protect-your-tap-quick-check-lead.
The following steps can be taken to reduce lead in drinking water:
Use filters properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, see EPA’s https://www.epa.gov/water-research/consumer-tool-identifying-point-use-and-pitcher-filters-certified-reduce-lead.
Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.
Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes providing water to your home, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home. Residents may contact the Reidsville Public Works Department for recommendations about flushing times in their community.
Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Contact Reidsville Public Works to find out about any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your service line. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line or galvanized service line if present.
Have your water tested. Contact the Reidsville Public Works Department at 336-349-1070 or PublicWork@reidsvillenc.gov to have your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water. Alternatively, you may contact a certified laboratory to have your water tested for lead. Two local labs in our area are: Meritech, Inc. of Reidsville, NC (336-342-4748) or Pace Labs of Eden, NC (336-623-8921). Note, a water sample may not adequately capture or represent all sources of lead that may be present. For information on sources of lead that include service lines and interior plumbing, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#getinto.
Although there is no confirmation of having a lead service line, you may wish to speak with a healthcare provider to see if your child’s blood lead level is elevated and/or if there is a need for blood testing, if you are concerned about potential exposure. Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/advisory/acclpp/actions-blls.htm for information on these actions.
For information about potential financing solutions to assist property owners with replacement of lead service lines, please contact us at 336-349-1070, PublicWork@reidsvillenc.gov, or visit the Public Works offices at 1100 Vance St, Reidsville, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information on reducing lead exposure from your drinking water and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/lead.
