Lead Service Lines: Management and Public Perception in 21 Utilities

Abstract

Utility and homeowner surveys were completed in 2015 to document the number of lead service lines (LSLs) in Canadian utilities, share utilities’ knowledge, and formulate recommendations on LSL management. LSLs represented <1 to 22% of the service line connections in the distribution systems considered (average 23 LSLs/1,000 people). With the exception of two utilities, mostly partial LSL replacements (LSLRs) were conducted by the utilities surveyed; flushing procedures post‐LSLR varied. Considering both surveys, the following recommendations are suggested: improve LSL records by registering the materials on both the public and the private sides after LSLR; harmonize flushing procedures post‐LSLR; develop a collaborative approach between contractors and utility staff to increase awareness, maintain LSL records, and ensure post‐LSLR flushing; combine funding, increased awareness, and provision of contractors to homeowners with fixed costs to increase full LSLRs; and assess the possibility of mandatory LSL detection and full LSLR at the time of house resale.