Salina Water System Service Line Inventory (LCRI)
Lead and Copper Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first established the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in 1991 to reduce exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. The LCR sets action levels and requirements for monitoring controls. These contaminants primarily enter drinking water through corrosion of the service lines, fixtures, and plumbing. The EPA published Lead and Copper Revisions (LCRR) in 2021 and proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) in 2023 to strengthen key elements to the LCRR. The final LCRI rule was released on October 8, 2024.
Learn about lead by watching this short YouTube video: "AWWA: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out".
The City’s Drinking Water is Safe
The Water Treatment Plant maintains strict control of the water’s pH, hardness, and other parameters to prevent corrosion. As required, the City regularly tests for lead and copper in its drinking water. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) requires the City to report its 90th percentile test result for lead, which was 1.4 micrograms per liter in 2023. Since 1992, the City has not exceeded the “action level” of 15 micrograms per liter.
A food-grade type of phosphate is added at each of the water treatment plants to help reduce lead levels in the City’s water supply. As the water with the phosphate runs through the water piping system, it creates a coating on the inside of the pipes, creating a barrier between the lead pipes and the water.
Salina’s Water Quality
The City’s Utilities Department takes great pride and care in treating its drinking water. Due to diligent testing and monitoring, there is no concern with lead and copper in the water that is produced and delivered to our customers. The Utilities Department has a long-standing history of meeting all regulatory standards, which can be found in the Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) that is published yearly.
How Can YOU Help?
Identify if you have lead service lines. Report your water service line material to the City by filling out the Salina Water System Service Line Inventory Survey. This will help the City complete our inventory of service lines.
Keep up to date with the latest news about lead and copper by visiting the EPA’s Lead Page and the KDHE’s Lead and Copper Rule Page.
Health Effect of Lead
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or worsen existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these negative health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney, or nervous system problems.
Possible Sources of Lead in Drinking Water
When water is in contact with pipes and plumbing containing lead, the lead may enter drinking water. Homes built in Kansas before the 1988 lead ban are more likely to have lead pipes or lead solder.
Water lines made of lead, copper pipe with lead solder, galvanized lines that may have had lead upstream, brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute to lead in drinking water. Lead is not normally found in Kansas source water supplies from lakes, rivers, streams or groundwater.
Lead and Copper Revisions/Improvements
The 2021 LCCR included a compliance date of the initial service inventory of October 16, 2024, and notification of the service line material to customers by November 16, 2024.
On October 8, 2024, the City’s Utilities Department submitted the Lead Service Line Inventory to the KDHE and the EPA.
Prior to November 16, 2024, the City will be mailing “Notifications of Known or Potential Service Line Containing Lead” pamphlets to all residents where portion of, or the entire pipe that connects the structure to the water main is either lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or the pipe is an unknown material.
The City will have limited funds to help replace the customer-owned service lines.
Final Lead Copper Revisions/Improvements
The final rule focuses on key areas that will protect our community. The City will be required to replace lead service lines within 10 years. The City has completed the initial inventory and, over the next 3 years, will complete a service line replacement plan (likely sometime in October of 2027). Concurrently, unknown pipe materials will be verified, and if lead or galvanized is found, requiring replacement, it will be added to the service line replacement plan.
Overview of what the LCRR Requires
- Develop a lead service line inventory and make it publicly available
- Develop a lead service line Inventory replacement plan
- Sample schools and childcare facilities for lead and copper
- Strengthen treatment to comply with the new 10 micrograms per liter(µg/L) trigger levels (previously 15) for lead
- Communicate with the public sector about the LCRR’s requirements and the steps taken to meet them
The primary motivation for creating the LCRR is to keep people, and especially children, safe from the dangers in drinking water with contamination from lead and copper.
This is why the lead and service line inventory requirement is so important. The inventory allows the City to know where there is a potentially hazardous piping, to take the steps needed to replace it, and to share the information with the public.
Map of Service Line Records (Address Lookup)
All water systems are required to make their LSL Inventory readily available to the public. All water systems serving more than 50,000 people are required to make their inventory available online.
The City of Salina services less than 50,000 customers and is not required to publish the LSL Inventory online; however, the online inventory will be available in early 2025. Prior to this time contact the Utilities Department.
Continue on with the survey below:
Lead and Copper Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first established the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in 1991 to reduce exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. The LCR sets action levels and requirements for monitoring controls. These contaminants primarily enter drinking water through corrosion of the service lines, fixtures, and plumbing. The EPA published Lead and Copper Revisions (LCRR) in 2021 and proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) in 2023 to strengthen key elements to the LCRR. The final LCRI rule was released on October 8, 2024.
Learn about lead by watching this short YouTube video: "AWWA: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out".
The City’s Drinking Water is Safe
The Water Treatment Plant maintains strict control of the water’s pH, hardness, and other parameters to prevent corrosion. As required, the City regularly tests for lead and copper in its drinking water. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) requires the City to report its 90th percentile test result for lead, which was 1.4 micrograms per liter in 2023. Since 1992, the City has not exceeded the “action level” of 15 micrograms per liter.
A food-grade type of phosphate is added at each of the water treatment plants to help reduce lead levels in the City’s water supply. As the water with the phosphate runs through the water piping system, it creates a coating on the inside of the pipes, creating a barrier between the lead pipes and the water.
Salina’s Water Quality
The City’s Utilities Department takes great pride and care in treating its drinking water. Due to diligent testing and monitoring, there is no concern with lead and copper in the water that is produced and delivered to our customers. The Utilities Department has a long-standing history of meeting all regulatory standards, which can be found in the Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) that is published yearly.
How Can YOU Help?
Identify if you have lead service lines. Report your water service line material to the City by filling out the Salina Water System Service Line Inventory Survey. This will help the City complete our inventory of service lines.
Keep up to date with the latest news about lead and copper by visiting the EPA’s Lead Page and the KDHE’s Lead and Copper Rule Page.
Health Effect of Lead
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or worsen existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these negative health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney, or nervous system problems.
Possible Sources of Lead in Drinking Water
When water is in contact with pipes and plumbing containing lead, the lead may enter drinking water. Homes built in Kansas before the 1988 lead ban are more likely to have lead pipes or lead solder.
Water lines made of lead, copper pipe with lead solder, galvanized lines that may have had lead upstream, brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute to lead in drinking water. Lead is not normally found in Kansas source water supplies from lakes, rivers, streams or groundwater.
Lead and Copper Revisions/Improvements
The 2021 LCCR included a compliance date of the initial service inventory of October 16, 2024, and notification of the service line material to customers by November 16, 2024.
On October 8, 2024, the City’s Utilities Department submitted the Lead Service Line Inventory to the KDHE and the EPA.
Prior to November 16, 2024, the City will be mailing “Notifications of Known or Potential Service Line Containing Lead” pamphlets to all residents where portion of, or the entire pipe that connects the structure to the water main is either lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or the pipe is an unknown material.
The City will have limited funds to help replace the customer-owned service lines.
Final Lead Copper Revisions/Improvements
The final rule focuses on key areas that will protect our community. The City will be required to replace lead service lines within 10 years. The City has completed the initial inventory and, over the next 3 years, will complete a service line replacement plan (likely sometime in October of 2027). Concurrently, unknown pipe materials will be verified, and if lead or galvanized is found, requiring replacement, it will be added to the service line replacement plan.
Overview of what the LCRR Requires
- Develop a lead service line inventory and make it publicly available
- Develop a lead service line Inventory replacement plan
- Sample schools and childcare facilities for lead and copper
- Strengthen treatment to comply with the new 10 micrograms per liter(µg/L) trigger levels (previously 15) for lead
- Communicate with the public sector about the LCRR’s requirements and the steps taken to meet them
The primary motivation for creating the LCRR is to keep people, and especially children, safe from the dangers in drinking water with contamination from lead and copper.
This is why the lead and service line inventory requirement is so important. The inventory allows the City to know where there is a potentially hazardous piping, to take the steps needed to replace it, and to share the information with the public.
Map of Service Line Records (Address Lookup)
All water systems are required to make their LSL Inventory readily available to the public. All water systems serving more than 50,000 people are required to make their inventory available online.
The City of Salina services less than 50,000 customers and is not required to publish the LSL Inventory online; however, the online inventory will be available in early 2025. Prior to this time contact the Utilities Department.
Continue on with the survey below: