Re: Action Required
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: YOUR DRINKING WATER SERVICE LINE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS LEAD

Dear Customer:

As part of the Port Washington Water District’s (PWWD) ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and quality of the drinking water supply, we have recently completed a survey of service lines within our community to meet United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory requirements. We regularly test for lead at the end of our treatment process and within our distribution system in accordance with EPA regulatory requirements. Testing has shown that lead is not an issue in the water leaving any of our water treatment facilities. Today, there is a growing awareness that some customer owned service lines or internal piping may have lead or galvanized pipes and/or lead components including connectors and fixtures. Please share this information with anyone who drinks and/or cooks using water at this property. This can include employees, tenants, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, businesses, childcares or daycares, in addition to any person directly served at this property. The PWWD prioritizes protecting the health of every consumer in our community, which is why we are writing to inform you of this important matter concerning the water service lines in your area.

ACTION REQUIRED – According to our records, the Port Washington Water District has identified that either a part of, or the entire length of, the service line owned by you that delivers drinking water is made of lead. We would like to confirm. Please contact us to schedule an inspection. We regularly test for lead at the end of our treatment processes, and it has shown that lead is not an issue in the water leaving any of our water treatment facilities.

By October 16, 2024, the EPA required all water providers in the nation to develop and submit a water service line inventory identifying the pipes connecting the water main to a property, home, or business. The District has completed the initial service line inventory and is now notifying consumers of their service line material according to our District’s records. If you do not already know, it is important for you to be aware of the composition of the materials of your service line.

The current service line inventory for the entire District is available for viewing at our office located at 38 Sandy Hollow Road, Port Washington, NY 11050. The information will also soon be available on the New York State Department of Health website at https://health.data.ny.gov.

What is a Lead Service Line?

A service line is the pipe connecting the water main to the building. In our District, as the property owner you own the entire length of the water service line, including the portion within the roadway, and are responsible for any repairs, upgrades, or replacement of the water service. The EPA has determined that when any section of the service line is made of lead, it is classified as a lead service line.

The figure below represents a typical scenario for a commercial water service line in many cases, but does not represent all scenarios.

As our records indicate a partial or full lead service line exists serving the premises, it should be replaced. We recommend you have a professional plumber evaluate whether or not the service line, internal plumbing, connections, and/or fixtures within your home/business may contain lead materials. If confirmed that lead is present, it should be replaced. Until it can be confirmed that the entire length of your service line is not made of lead, we will continue to provide information about lead in drinking water once a year, so you can take precautionary measures to minimize your potential exposure to lead in drinking water. Discuss the replacement options available with your plumber/contractor. Please keep us informed when this work is proposed to be completed, and when it has been completed so we may update our records accordingly.

More information on lead, including steps that can be taken to reduce your exposure to lead, can be found in the enclosed brochure and on our website. Information regarding the presence of lead within our District is included in our Annual Water Quality Report, which can be found on our website at www.pwwd.org.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. Should you have any questions or concerns about this consumer notification, you can contact us at (516) 767-0171 or contact the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 227-9692.

Sincerely,
Port Washington Water District