Water Service Line Inventory
Why is a Survey Necessary?
Take the Survey In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began assisting communities and water utilities in identifying and replacing lead pipes that connect drinking water services to homes and other buildings. The EPA introduced new rules called the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. According to these rules, all water systems, including the one in the City of Roberts, are required and must prepare and maintain an inventory of their service line materials by October 16, 2024.
The EPA’s new guidance will help water systems develop and maintain these inventories. It will also support notifying consumers about lead pipes and provide states with the information needed for oversight and reporting to the EPA. Additionally, this guidance will facilitate the use of $15 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This money is dedicated to lead service line replacement projects and related activities, such as identifying, planning, designing, and replacing lead pipes, as well as creating the inventories.
The City of Roberts is working with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to inventory the water service line types in Roberts. While the City of Roberts already has an inventory of many lines, we want to ensure our records are current.
Additional information about the inventory can be found by visiting the Enviormental Protection Agency's website.
A Word From Idaho Department of Enviromental Quality
Completing the Survey
We are asking residents to complete a simple survey to let us know what material their services line is made from. The survery is available online, by mail, and by email. Your participation is appreciated.
Online
Click to complete the survey Water Service Line Survey
By Mail
A survey will be mailed to you in your July bill. Please fill it out and return it via mail, by hand, or in the drop box at City Hall.
A fillable PDF of the survey is available upon request by emailing robertscityclerk@yahoo.com.
Finding Your Water Service Line
Before completing the survey, you need to determine where the water service line is and how it connects to your home. If you need assistance finding your service line, contact your public water system at 208-228-3220
Outside Meter
To locate where the water service line enters your home, look for a water meter and curb stop valve. These are usually found in the alley behind your property and are ground-level boxes labeled "water" or "meter." Once you find them, follow the shortest path to your home. The water service line should enter the building through the floor or foundation wall in this general area.
Test the Pipe Material
Once you've found where the water service line enters your home, look for a spot on the pipe closest to the wall or floor, ideally before it connects to a valve. At this spot, you can test the material the pipe is made of.
The following tools will be useful in helping you to determine what material your pipe is made of: a refrigerator magnet, a coin or key, a flashlight or mobile phone.
Plastic
This pipe comes in different materials and colors. If you tap it with a coin, the pipe does not make a ringing sound.
Copper
Use a key or coin to scratch the pipe. If the scratch appears orange and shiny like a penny, this means the pipe is made of copper. Additionally, a magnet will not stick to it.
Galvanized Steel or Iron
If the pipe appears silvery gray, is difficult to scratch and a magnet sticks to it, then the pipe is made of galvanized steel or galvanized iron.
Lead
If the pipe is silvery gray, is easily scratched, the metal seems soft, and a magnet does not stick to it— it is likely a lead pipe.
