Thank you for helping the City of Fostoria complete our water service line inventory! Identifying the material of our community's water service lines is important to promote a healthy Fostoria and helps our water department understand which service lines we need to replace. For questions or to learn more, please don't hesitate to contact us at (419) 435-2486 or waterdist@fostoriaohio.gov. We value your support!

1. Find your water service line:

Typically, the service line is in the basement or crawl space near the water meter: 

 

2. Identify your water service line material using the following information: 

Plastic: The pipe is typically white or gray but can also be other colors. Although plastic does not contribute to lead in drinking water, lead may still be present in other parts of the plumbing system such as faucets and bonding material called solder.

 

Metal/Copper: To find out what kind of metal pipe you have, perform two simple tests: 

Scratch Test

Use a coin or key to gently scratch the pipe close to where it comes in through the wall or floor. If the pipe is painted, use sandpaper to expose the metal first. Check the color of the scratched area and reference the descriptions below to identify the material type. You can also watch this video for instructions on how to perform a scratch test.

Magnet Test

Place a magnet on the pipe. Check if the magnet sticks to the test scratched area and reference the descriptions below to identify the material type. You can also watch this video for instructions on how to perform a scratch and magnet test.

 

Material Types

Galvanized Iron or Steel

• Pipes are dull, silver-gray and have threads at connection points (as shown circled in the above photo)
• Scratch test: does not scratch or is difficult to scratch
• Magnet test: magnet will stick

 

Lead

• Pipes are gray or silver; widens at the connection point and forms a bulb (as shown in the above photo)
• Scratch test: shiny and silver (soft and scratches easily)
• Magnet test: magnet will not stick

 

Copper

• Pipes are dull brown, greenish
• Scratch test: scratches easily and will be the same color as a penny
• Magnet test: magnet will not stick

 

Plastic

• Pipes are smooth and may be red, blue, black, or white in color
• Scratch test: does not scratch or is difficult to scratch
• Magnet test: magnet will not stick

 

Not sure: If you have any questions or experience difficulty determining the material of your water service line, please contact us at (419) 435-2486 or waterdist@fostoriaohio.gov, to schedule an appointment and a utility representative will assist you in determining your water service line material.

Thank you for taking time to help us complete our community's water service line material inventory. If you have additional questions, please contact us at (419) 435-2486 or waterdist@fostoriaohio.gov. We will be happy to assist you!