The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued regulations requiring
all public water supply (PWS) systems to develop a Lead Service Line Inventory (LSU)
of both water system owned and your privately owned service lines. Your PWS system
must submit this inventory to the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment (KDHE) by October 16, 2024.
Representatives of your water system may contact you in the near future to ask you
to answer some questions such as the date your home was built or if you know what
materials were used in your home's plumbing and service line, among other questions.
Please take the time to respond to their inquiries as this will help determine if you or
your family have a lead exposure risk. If you are unsure, your water system should be
able to help identify materials. The goal is to remove all lead containing service lines to
your home.
Piping containing lead can become a potential health risk in drinking water. Some homes
(typically built before 1988 in Kansas) may have lead service lines on the customer's
property that connect to your water system's main lines.
Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead in drinking water
and water used for fomiula because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at
lower exposure levels in children than in adults.
Additional infomiation on the Lead and Copper Rule and identifying lead pipes and
plumbing can be found on the KDHE website.