Service Line Materials

Water Service Lines

Underground is a network of pipes that supply public drinking water to homes, schools, businesses, and properties. A water service line is a pipe that transports water from the water main in the street to private property. The City is responsible to maintain water infrastructure within the City right-of-way, which is typically from the middle of the street to the back of the sidewalk or 8' to 10' from the edge of the pavement. The City maintains the water service line from the water main in the street up to the curb box (water shut off), while the property owner is responsible to maintain the rest of the water service line after the curb box.

Service Line Materials

Water service lines can be made of copper, plastic, brass, galvanized steel, or lead. The use of lead pipes and solder became banned in 1986, but older homes may still find lead present in the original plumbing. The City of Dover has proactively replaced any known lead pipes in the public City water system. However, it's still possible for lead service lines or lead-lined galvanized steel to exist within a property owner's private property. The City of Dover strongly encourages residents to identify and replace any lead pipes or plumbing materials.

Service Line Inventory

Federal requirements from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been issued to require all water systems across the United States to create and maintain a public inventory of service line materials in compliance with the EPA's Revised Lead and Copper Rule. This regulation was developed to better protect communities from possible exposure to lead in drinking water by providing the public with information on what material each water line service is made of for every home on a public water supply in the country.

Self-Checking & Reporting Your Service Line

You can take the following steps to inspect your own service line and report your findings to the City of Dover through its :

1. Locate Your Service Line

Find the water meter in your basement or crawl space and inspect the service line that enters your home before the meter.

2. Scratch Test – Determine Your Pipe Material

Use a house key or coin to carefully scratch the pipe’s surface. Compare and match the scratched area to the following pipe descriptions:

Copper - A copper pipe is the same color as a penny. Older copper pipes may show colors of green or blue. A magnet will not stick to a copper pipe.

Plastic - A plastic pipe is smooth and usually white, black, red, or blue. A magnet will not stick to a plastic pipe.

Galvanized - A galvanized steel pipe is black, dull gray, or silver with threaded ends and will have no noticeable scratch on the surface. A magnet will stick to a galvanized steel pipe

Lead - A lead pipe is dull gray or silver and soft, which will leave a noticeable shiny scratch on the surface. A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe.

3. Take a Photo

Take a picture showing the material of your service line after completing the scratch test. The scratched surface (on the section of the pipe between where the pipe enters your property and the water meter) should be visible in your photo.

4. Report Your Service Line Material

Take a photo and contact Community Services at 603-516-6450 for next steps.

Water Quality & Compliance

The City of Dover has complied with the federal Lead and Copper Rule since its inception in 1991. It's our mission to provide Dover with drinking water that is of higher quality than all current state and federal water quality standards. For more information about water quality, please visitwww.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/community-services/water-quality/.

Additional Resources

Lead in Drinking Water (NHDES): https://www.des.nh.gov/water/drinking-water/lead
Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water (EPA): https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water