City of Cedar Rapids Publishes Interactive Water Service Line Web Map

The Cedar Rapids Water Division (CRWD) is participating in a United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) initiative, "Get the Lead Out". In December of 2021, the U.S. EPA finalized its Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, requiring public water systems to prepare an inventory of all water service lines connected to its distribution system to identify lines that are made of lead or unknown materials. A water service line is the connection between the water distribution pipes in the street and the water meter in a customer's home or business. An updated citywide inventory is scheduled for submission to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) by October 16, 2024.

Some older houses and buildings in Cedar Rapids still utilize lead plumbing components or may have a lead service line between the water meter and water main. Lead from service lines can leach into water during overnight contact with lead pipes and faucets in older buildings. To reduce the risk of dissolved lead from old pipes, CRWD adds a food-grade corrosion inhibitor to its water supply. This consists of a very low concentration of zinc ortho-phosphate, a mineral that reduces the risk of dissolved lead in consumers' water. This small amount has long been proven safe for consumption.

"We work hard every day to provide clean, safe, great-tasting drinking water for our customers," said Amy Knudsen, water quality specialist for the City of Cedar Rapids. "We conduct a sampling program to ensure lead corrosion control is effective in homes with older service lines and plumbing. Our tests show most homes meet or exceed the safety standards set by the EPA. We perform additional sampling and analysis in those few instances where there might be a concern."

Lead service lines discovered through this inventory will eventually need to be replaced, however the City is not requiring residents to replace their private service line. The City has published an interactive web map where residents can find their location, and see if their service line material has been identified. Following the inventory submission to the IDNR, the CRWD will be sending out notifications to all residents with lead, unknown, or certain galvanized iron service material lines between October 16 and the end of November of this year. Notification letters will be accompanied by a brochure with additional program-specific information.

To further update our Service Line Inventory, Water Division staff reviewed more than 100,000 historical records since 2021. Unfortunately, many of these old records did not include material information. CRWD has turned to actively collecting service line information from meter exchanges, plumbing permits, ongoing construction projects, as well as by enlisting the help of homeowners themselves to submit service line inventory surveys.

Here are steps residents and property owners can take to review and update their service line:

• Visit the City website at CityofCR.com/Inventory
• Read the information and watch the short instructional video
• Locate the water service line in your home or business and perform a "scratch test" and "magnet test" to identify the service line material
• Fill out a brief survey through the link on the City's website

Information about Cedar Rapids' water quality and this service-line inventory was distributed in the May 2024 edition of OurCR and is available online at www.CityofCR.com/WaterQuality. Those with questions regarding their water quality may contact Water Division Customer Service by phone (319) 286-5900 or by emailing [email protected].