Frequently Asked Questions

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1. How do I know what my portion of the service line is made of?

Homes built after 1950 are more likely to have copper service lines.

You can often identify the material used in your service line through a visual inspection at the point where the water service line enters your home. Reference this photo (PNG) to find the location.

• Find the section of plumbing that enters your home near the foundation, there is usually a valve at that location. Be careful not to confuse it with the sewer or gas line.

You can scrape a small section with a coin if it is dirty or discolored. Reference this photo (PNG) for pictures of pipe material types.

• If the scraped area is shiny and silver, your service line is lead. A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe.
• If the scraped area is copper in color, like a penny, your service line is copper.
• If the scraped area remains a dull gray, and a magnet sticks to the surface, your service line is galvanized steel.
• The plumbing material may be PEX / plastic. In this case, it would appear to be plastic, not metal.

Need help or still not sure? Take a picture of the service line and email it along with the service address and a City team member will get back to you.

2. What if I don’t want to replace my line (or my landlord doesn’t want to replace it)?

• The customer-owned service line is the responsibility of the property owner. The City highly recommends that any customer-owned service line that is identified as lead or galvanized be replaced as soon as possible. The City is looking into enforcement avenues to ensure all the lines are removed from the City's water service area.
• If a lead service line is confirmed to be present, a certified lead-removing filter should be used for drinking water, cooking, and dishes where water is a base ingredient or absorbed into the food (recipes like rice, beans and soup) and preparing infant formula, until the line is replaced.

3. I can’t afford to replace all my plumbing materials, what should I do?

The City is working through options to provide financial support to replace galvanized or lead service lines (does not apply to premise plumbing). However, no final decisions have been made yet. 

4. What if my internal premise plumbing is galvanized too?

If a copper pipe is connected to a galvanized line, a dielectric junction must be installed to reduce the potential for corrosion. It is recommended that internal galvanized lines be updated as well.

5. I have a lead or galvanized line, should I be worried for my family’s health?

• Your health care provider is your best source of information and support for your family's health.
• The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment has a fact sheet about lead in drinking water that provides tips on reducing exposure.

6. Are there lead pipes in the system-owned portion of the water system?

No. The City long ago removed all lead pipes from the system-owned portion of the water system. 

7. What are other ways I can reduce my family’s exposure to lead?

• Replace old plumbing materials and fixtures, particularly lead, galvanized, or brass.
• Run your cold tap for several seconds before use, and always use the cold side for consumption. You can warm water for cooking or formula on the stove or in the microwave.
• The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment has made resources available on its website for residents to learn more about lead exposure. They have a helpful brochure about common lead sources and health concerns.
• The EPA has resources available as well.

8. What are other ways I can reduce my family’s exposure to lead?

• Replace old plumbing materials and fixtures, particularly lead, galvanized, or brass.
• Run your cold tap for several seconds before use, and always use the cold side for consumption. You can warm water for cooking or formula on the stove or in the microwave.
• The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment has made resources available on its website for residents to learn more about lead exposure. They have a helpful brochure about common lead sources and health concerns.
• The EPA has resources available as well.