Lead Water Service Line Information

Important Information About Your Drinking Water from the Village of Flossmoor

Under Illinois State Law, the Village is required to notify residents whose homes may be affected by water system work. The purpose of this notice is to inform you that the Village is planning to complete work or has completed work on the drinking water distribution system in your neighborhood (i.e. water main break repair, water meter replacement, water main replacement, etc.). If your home has a lead service line (the pipe that connects your home to the Village's water main) working on the water distribution system can disrupt the lining in your pipe and cause lead to leech into your water. Note that the homeowner owns and is responsible for maintaining the water service line from the house to the water service box (aka buffalo box).

Learn more about some of the common sources of lead in drinking water. Esta información en español.

Not all homes have lead service lines. Most homes built after 1960 have copper lines. If you have a copper service line, you are not at risk of having lead leech into your water from water distribution work, but you should still be aware that some household plumbing fixtures contain lead.

Having a lead service line does not necessarily mean you’ll have lead in your water. It does, however, indicate that you may be at greater risk if your lead service line is disturbed. A way to determine if the pipe coming into your home is made of lead is to carefully scratch it with a coin. If it is a lead pipe, the scratched area will turn bright silver. A licensed plumber can also help you determine if you have a lead water service line.

Lead, a metal found in natural deposits, is harmful to human health, especially young children. The most common exposure to lead is swallowing or breathing in lead paint chips and dust. However, lead in drinking water can also be a source of lead exposure. In the past, lead was used in some water service lines and household plumbing materials. Lead in water usually occurs through corrosion of plumbing products containing lead; however, disruption of lead service lines may temporarily increase lead levels in the water supply. As of June 19, 1986, new or replaced water service lines in new household plumbing materials could not contain more than 8% lead. Lead content was further reduced on Jan. 4, 2014, when plumbing materials must now be certified as “lead free."

IMPORTANT STEPS TO TAKE TO PREVENT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

Work on the water distribution system can disrupt the lining in water service pipes, causing temporary elevated lead levels. While it is not known for certain whether or not a project will adversely affect the lead (if present) in your plumbing, here are preventive steps to help reduce your risk from lead:

• If you do not have a lead service line: Running your water for 1 to 2 minutes at the kitchen tap should clear the lead from your household plumbing. Once you have done this, fill a container with water and store it in the refrigerator for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula throughout the day.
  
  
• If you do have a lead service line: Running times can vary based on the length of your lead service line and the plumbing configurations in your home. The length of lead service lines vary considerably. Flushing for at least 3-5 minutes is recommended.
   
• Always use cold water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula. 
  
  
• Look for alternative sources or treatment of water.
  
  
• Clean and remove debris from water aerators on a regular basis.
  
  
• Do not boil water to remove lead.
  
  
• Purchase lead-free faucets and plumbing components.
  
  
• Replace the entire lead service line.
  
  
• Have your water tested. Since you cannot see, taste or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is a good way of telling whether lead is present or not.
  • While the Village does not perform water testing in-house, if you would like to have your water tested, here is contact information for water-testing labs in the Chicago area:
    • Suburban Laboratories, Inc. - 708-544-3260
    • First Environmental Laboratories, Inc. - 630-778-1200

Please note that the Village of Flossmoor collects water samples from 40 sites throughout our drinking water distribution system and sends them to a third-party laboratory for lead testing. Currently, the EPA requires the Village to test every six months at locations specified by the EPA. In the first half of 2024, the Village’s lead level was 3.6 ppb (parts per billion), well below the lead action level of 15 ppb.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 708-957-4100.