Program Overview
The city is in the process of inventorying all water service lines in our service area to determine what material they are made of. We are using a few methods to complete this program, including records review and visits to homes and businesses.
Federal regulations require all water providers to conduct this inventory, specifically to determine if there are any lead service lines. While lead in drinking water has been a concern in some municipalities, the city does not currently have evidence that would support such concerns in Boulder.
Boulder Monitors for Lead in Drinking Water
Lead in drinking water can occur if water lines and plumbing materials that contain lead corrode over time. The city's water treatment process is designed to reduce corrosion and protect pipe materials.
The city consistently provides high-quality drinking water that meets water regulations, and our water sampling program goes above and beyond requirements, including those that limit the amount of lead in drinking water.
We have monitored for lead in drinking water for over 30 years, and our results are consistently below federal and state drinking water standards.
More information about the city’s drinking water quality can be found in its Annual Drinking Water Report.
New Regulations
In 2021, the federal government enacted new regulations to mitigate exposure to lead from water service lines. A service line is the pipe that moves water from the city’s water system into homes and businesses. The city owns the water service line from the water main (typically under the street) to the meter, and the customer owns the water service line from the water meter into the home or building.
To comply with the new regulations, all drinking water providers in the U.S. must inventory their water service lines to identify and develop a plan to replace any made of lead. Some service lines made of galvanized steel may also require replacement.
The city is not aware of any lead service lines in our public system, and the water leaving our treatment plants does not have lead in it. However, customer-owned water service lines that connect to older homes and businesses might. The city has started a program to identify if lead is present in water service lines to every home and business in Boulder.
To do this, we need our customers’ help to identify what their property’s water service line is made of.
What If I Think My Water Service Line is Made of Lead?
Contact the city by emailing drinkingwater@bouldercolorado.gov or by calling 303-441-3200 so staff can confirm findings. Another goal of this project is to develop a replacement plan for any lead water service lines that are found.
If it is discovered that your water service line is lead, either by city staff or a customer evaluation, city staff will verify results and notify you within 30 days. The city is currently assessing potential funding assistance options for lead service line replacement if needed. We will continue to update the community on lead service line funding assistance as information becomes available.
Next Steps
The City of Boulder has been working through electronic records review to determine where in-person inspections need to occur. The city will be reaching out to property owners and inspecting water service lines through 2024. Properties that require visual inspection will be notified by city staff.
More information can be found on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s lead webpage.
