What is a water service line?

A water service line is the pipe that connects the water main to your home or building inlet. Service lines may be made of copper or other materials such as galvanized iron or steel, plastic, brass, or lead. If any portion of the pipe is made of lead, it is called a lead service line (LSL).

Why is it important for me to check if my home has a lead or galvanized service line?

Lead is a toxin that poses serious health risks, and infants, young children, and pregnant people are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure. Lead service lines and plumbing materials (including solder, fixtures, and faucets) are the most common sources of lead in a home’s drinking water. Galvanized iron or steel pipe can pose a risk if it has ever been connected downstream of a lead service line, as lead can attach to the inner surface of galvanized steel and be released into drinking water over time. Service lines made of galvanized iron or steel that are (or were previously) downstream of LSLs are classified as galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) service line. For more information on the health effects of lead visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website.

Steps to check the materials of the service line.

Does San Dieguito Water District have information on your service line material? In compliance with state and federal regulations, the San Dieguito Water District (SDWD) completed a comprehensive water service line inventory to identify material composition throughout our system. This inventory was approved by the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) ahead of the regulatory deadline.

You can view the results of our Lead Service Line Inventory, which includes the publicly-owned portion of the service line, on our interactive map at the bottom of this page.

While the District has confirmed there are no known lead service lines, we encourage you to help us verify the material of the private portion of your service line (from the meter to your home) by following the steps below. This information will help ensure our records are as complete as possible.

The following steps will help you determine what the pipe in your home is made of and information on how to send the San Dieguito Water District a photo of your service line for verification (regardless of if you are able to determine the material yourself).

1. Find your water meter: Your water meter is located outside your home at the front of the property, typically in the public right-of-way.

• Look for a meter box in the sidewalk or in the grass/dirt area directly behind the sidewalk.
• If your property has an alley, the meter may be located there.

2. Find your service line

• The service line connects your water meter to your home.
• The service line most likely enters the house at a point closest to the location of the meter.
• If your service line is not visible, contact your water system for guidance.

3. Identify your service line material

Plastic: The pipe is typically white or gray but can also be other colors. Although plastic does not contribute to lead in drinking water, lead may still be present in other parts of the plumbing system such as faucets and bonding material called solder.

Metal: To find out what kind of metal pipe you have, perform two simple tests 1) a scratch test with a coin or key and 2) a magnet test. You will need a key and/or penny and a magnet for these tests. 

First, use the coin or key to gently scratch the pipe close to where it comes in through the wall or floor. Then, place the magnet on the pipe and see if it sticks. Using the information below, you can determine what your pipe is made of.

Copper. 

After scratching, if the pipe is the same color as a penny and may have a solid or splotchy film, varying in color from bright green to dark brown, you may have a copper pipe. A scratch test on copper pipe will expose a shiny copper penny color. A magnet will not stick to copper.

Galvanized iron or steel.

If the pipe is silver or gray, hard to scratch with a key or coin you may have an iron or steel pipe. If you place a magnet on the pipe and it sticks to the pipe, you may have galvanized steel pipes.

Lead. 

If a scratch test produces a shiny silver color, your pipe is likely made of lead. If you try to attach the magnet to the pipe and it does not stick, you may have a lead pipe.

How do I submit my test results to San Dieguito Water District?

Use the map below to identify your property and click on the corresponding circle and select 'Report Your Material'.

This will help us confirm the material of every service line in our territory.

Contact Information

San Dieguito Water District

For Questions or to Submit Information:

Email: WaterEng@SDWD.org

Phone: (760) 633-2709

Resources:

EPA’s Protect Your Tap tool can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/pyt.

For more information on health effects of lead and steps you can take to reduce exposure, visit EPA’s website here.