Skip to main content

Water Service Line Inventory 

What material is your water service line? Your water service line is the pipe that runs from the water meter to your home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all water utilities to help customers identify the material of their water service line. If your water service line is lead, the District will work with you to replace it. Even if your testing indicates your home does NOT have a lead service line, we still need to know for the benefit of our entire community.

How to Identify Your Water Service Line Material

Your water service line material is either galvanized steel, copper, plastic, or lead. Grab the following items, follow these steps, and then complete the online survey. 

What you will need to find out the material of your water service line:

  • Refrigerator magnet
  • Coin or screwdriver
  • Phone 

Step 1. Locate your Water Service Line 

Your water service line will usually enter your home through a crawlspace or garage. If you are unable to locate it, contact the District at 530-544-6474.

Step 2. Scratch Test

Find a spot on the water service line closest to the wall or floor where it enters, and before it connects to a vlalve or your home plumbing. Use a screwdriver or coin to scratch lightly (like you would a lottery ticket). What color is it? 

  • If your pipe is plastic, it will be white, black, blue or green, and not change colors when you scratch it. 
  • If your pipe is galvanized, the scraped area remains a dull gray, and is hard to scratch.
  • If your pipe is copper, the scraper area will look like a penny.
  • If your pipe is lead, ithe scraped area is shiny and silver, and it was easy to scratch

Step 3. Magnet Test

Place a refrigerator magnet on the pipe. Does it stick?

  • If your pipe is plastic, copper, or lead, the magnet will NOT stick.
  • If your pipe is galvanized, the magnet WILL stick. 

Step 4. Take a Picture

Take a picture of where you peformed the scratch and magnet test. 

Step 5. Complete Survey

Fill out the online survey at stpud.watersmart.com/WaterLineSurvey

Image showing tests for identifying lead, copper, and galvanized pipes via scratch, magnet, and tapping methods.

 

Resources