Lead Service Lines Information

As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) requirement to comply with the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule, the EPA 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, and the subsequent 2023/2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, all Drinking Water Public Water Systems (PWS) are required to submit a first ever water service line inventory of pipe material to the State of Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) agency and to notify customers of their service line material if it includes lead pipe material.

You can learn more about lead in drinking water on EPA's website.

Bluffton Water is focused on protecting the health of every customer by safeguarding the community from the potential risks associated with the lead exposure through drinking water. While the Bluffton infrastructure and water mains are not made of lead, the legacy water service lines that connect homes and buildings to the water mains in the water distribution system consist of a variety of pipe materials, some of which may contain lead.

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While the EPA has just pre-published final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements on October 8, 2024, Bluffton Water  has not yet received any guidance from IDEM on future steps involved in this process. As more information and guidance become available, we will update the community on service line replacement efforts through our website and public notifications.

It is important to note that nothing recently has changed in the water treatment process or within the water distribution to cause alarm to these new requirements and that Bluffton Water system is in full compliance with all IDEM drinking water standards and requirements.

The Bluffton Water Department is focused on protecting the health of every household in our community and prides itself on delivering safe, reliable drinking water to evey water customer. The Bluffton Water Department complies with all EPA and IDEM drinking water regulations. Regarding the potential of lead in your drinking water, Bluffton Water Department has not exceeded any of the average drinking water tests that has been performed over the past 20 years. If you would like information regarding the state required tests for drinking water, please refer to Bluffton's Annual Drinking Water Report (PDF).

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, kidney, or nervous system problems.

Ways to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water.

  • Use your filter 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, visit EPA’s website and its information on Point Use Pitcher Filters.
  • Clean your aerator. Regularly remove and 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.
  • Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line or galvanized service line if present. Contact us to find out about any construction or maintenance work that may disturb your service line.
  • Have your water tested. Contact your water utility to have your water bacteriologically tested, and to learn more about lead level concerns in your area. Alternatively, you may contact a certified laboratory to have your water specifically tested for lead. See EPA website's List of Accredited Lead Testing Laboratories. 
    • 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 EPA's website and its section on Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water.

Family Health

Families who live in homes with suspected or confirmed lead water service lines may want to have their children tested to determine lead levels in their blood. A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about how you can have your child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends public health actions when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more. For more information and links to CDC’s website, please visit EPA's website and its section on Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water.

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