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.
New 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 by October 16, 2024, in compliance with the Revised Lead and Copper Rule. This new 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.
The inventory of service line materials will be published when completed.
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:
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
Please a brief online survey to report the service line material, which will allow the user to submit a photo.
Water Service Line Material Inventory Survey
Thank you for taking the time to complete this important test to identify the service line on your property. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at 603-516-6450.
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/.