Service Line Notice
Why are you receiving this?
Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) is a public water system (PWS) responsible for providing drinking water to this location. You are receiving this notification because records indicate this home or building has a galvanized requiring replacement service line. A service line is a pipe that connects the water main to the building.
What does this mean?
Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires us to notify water consumers who are served by a lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or an unknown service line. A lead status unknown service line is where the service line material is unknown and may be lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or a non-lead material, and there is no documented evidence supporting material classification.
The existence of a lead or galvanized requiring replacement service line does not necessarily mean that lead is present in your drinking water. GCWW’s current treatment practices significantly reduce the possibility of exposure to lead through the addition of corrosion control, however, the presence of lead or galvanized requiring replacement pipes will always come with potential risk of exposure. Additional information about lead and water can be found on lead.mygcww.org.
What is Greater Cincinnati Water Works doing?
As required by federal and state regulations, GCWW provides drinking water that has been treated to protect pipes from corrosion and reduces the potential for lead to enter into the water. GCWW samples for lead from buildings and homes on a schedule set by the Ohio EPA to ensure the treatment is working.
What are the health effects of lead?
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.
What can I do to reduce exposure to lead if found in my drinking water?
Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
Flush your tap if it has been unused for 6 or more hours. Lead levels increase over time as water sits in lead-containing plumbing materials. Regular water usage in your home or building can reduce lead levels in drinking water. When water has not been used for 6 hours or more, homes and buildings served by lead or a galvanized requiring replacement service lines should be flushed until you note a temperature change, then flush for one more minute.
Use cold water for cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with, drink, or make baby formula from your hot water tap. Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Always use cold water and heat if needed
Use an ANSI certified lead filter. Filters certified to the ANSI/NSF 53 standard for lead removal can be effective at reducing lead levels in water.
Regularly clean your faucet aerators. Over time, particles containing lead can build up on the inside of aerator screens. Cleaning aerators regularly will help eliminate this source of lead.
For pregnant persons, infants, and young children. Some populations such as pregnant persons, infants, and young children may be more at risk from the harmful effects of lead. These populations may consider taking extra precautions if their home is served by a lead or galvanized requiring replacement service line. These extra precautions may include having their drinking water analyzed for lead, using an alternative source of water, such as bottled water, or utilizing a filter certified to ANSI/NSF 53 standard for lead removal.
Replace lead containing plumbing fixtures. Many old faucets, valves and other plumbing fixtures may contain lead. Identify if your buildings plumbing fixtures contain lead and replace them when appropriate.
You may wish to have your child’s blood tested for lead. The local health department can be reached at:
- Cincinnati Health Department:
513.357.7320 or www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health - Hamilton County Health Department:
https://www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org/?s=lead - Warren County Health Department:
513.695.1468 or www.warrenchd.com/healthcare/family-health-clinic
You may wish to test your water for lead in your home/building. To request this, please visit our website at lead.mygcww.org or call customer service at 513.591.7700.
What can you do about your lead or galvanized requiring replacement service line?
GCWW owns the portion of the service line from the water main in the street to the curb stop (typically located near the sidewalk). The portion of the service line from the curb stop into the building is owned by the property owner. GCWW was one of the first utilities in the Country to provide a lead service line replacement program to help customers replace their lead or galvanized service lines. The program works in concentrated project areas to maximize efficiency. When a project comes to the area of your property you will be notified of the opportunity to replace your service line at no cost to you.
As your water system, we are required to replace our owned portion of the lead service line, if/when you replace your portion of the lead service, if the entire service line is made of lead. If you are replacing your lead service line yourself, outside of the program, please contact 513.651.5323.
If you do not agree that your building is served by a lead or galvanized steel service line or if your line is unknown material, please visit our website at lead.mygcww.org to complete a self-identification form.
For more information, Please Visit: lead.mygcww.org; or Contact the Greater Cincinnati Water Works customer service line at: 513-591-7700; or visit Ohio EPA’s Learn About Lead webpage. For information about other
lead exposure, please visit the Ohio Department of Health’s website at odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/ childhood leadpoisoning/ or the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site at www.epa.gov/lead.Please share this information with all the other people in this building, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail