OKC Utilities Department publishes water service line inventory, implements plan to meet new EPA lead and copper rules
10/16/2024
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In compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), the City of Oklahoma City Utilities Department has published an online inventory of all water service lines connected to the City’s water distribution system.
Service lines are small-diameter water pipes that connect a public water system to a home or building.
The inventory is available at okc.gov/leadsafe through the Lead-Safe Community Database. It is a user-friendly resource to check the material type of public and private water service lines. The inventory supports the Utilities Department’s mission to safeguard public health and the EPA’s mission to reduce lead exposure through drinking water.
 (For demonstration purposes only and not to scale. Graphic represents a typical scenario for a property but does not represent all scenarios. Individual service lines may differ in length and connection to property.)
As part of the inventory effort, and in compliance with the LCRR, the City will begin sending notification letters to Utilities customers if the public and/or private service line material at their property has been verified as lead or galvanized steel requiring replacement. Customers where service line material remains unverified will also receive a notification letter. Letters will be mailed to customers by the EPA deadline of November 15.
Under Oklahoma law, and the City’s Municipal Code §55-43, the City is responsible for the public side of the service line and the property owner is responsible for the private side of the service line.
The City is currently developing a service line replacement plan to be published by the EPA deadline of late 2027. The timeline of public service line replacements has yet to be determined. When finalized, the City’s plan will provide for the replacement of every public service line identified as lead. As of October 2024, that number is 173, which is equivalent to .07% of the roughly 254,000 service accounts within the inventory. The plan will be published online at okc.gov/leadsafe.
There is currently no Federal or State assistance available to help customers replace their private service lines. If public assistance becomes available, the City will provide notice to customers.
For more information about this public health initiative, frequently asked questions and steps you can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, visit okc.gov/leadsafe or epa.gov/lead. For specific questions related to a service address, email leadsafe@okc.gov.
Background
Does Oklahoma City have lead in its water supply? No. The water treated and delivered from our two treatment plants does not contain lead. Additionally, no large pipes (water mains) within the City’s water distribution system contain lead.
How does lead get into drinking water? Lead is typically only detected in water that has traveled through lead service lines, galvanized lines downstream from lead lines, or copper lines with lead solder, lead joints or lead fittings. Over time, lines can corrode, allowing small amounts of lead to leach into the water. OKC water quality staff help protect customers by reducing the risk of lead exposure by using a corrosion inhibitor.
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Since the EPA introduced the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in 1991, the Utilities Department has been fully compliant, consistently prioritizing water quality and public health. The LCR requires specific testing for lead and copper and action when testing levels exceed designated limits.
In 2021, the EPA put into effect its LCRR and established a compliance deadline to meet the new requirements by Oct. 16, 2024. The LCRR requires water systems to create an inventory of water service lines, notification to water customers of specific service line material and notifying the public when lead levels exceed designated limits.
The City’s efforts to verify and inventory service lines began in the summer of 2023 using a variety of methods, including review of historical records and physical pipe inspections. Efforts to identify unverified services lines is ongoing.
On Oct. 8, 2024, the EPA announced the final rule, the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which clarifies portions of the LCRR and requires water systems in the United States to identify and replace lead service lines within 10 years, beginning in 2027. The LCRI also requires more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water.
The final rule improves communication within communities so families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them.
There may be more requirements or information provided to customers as City staff review the recently announced LCRI and if the EPA, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) or national water associations provide additional guidance.
To view the most recent OKC Drinking Water Quality Report, visit okc.gov/ccr.
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Media Contact: Jasmine Morris, (405) 297-1950, jasmine.morris@okc.gov
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