Blacksburg to Inventory Water Service Lines
In May 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released final revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). The rule requires all utility services to create an inventory of public and private water service lines by October 16, 2024.
According to the EPA, the goal of this program is to identify and protect against lead exposure in the United States. As a result, the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and the Montgomery County Public Service Authority (PSA) have implemented inventory programs responding to the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).
The Town of Blacksburg’s water quality continuously exceeds federal and state standards and lead levels are well below regulatory requirements per consistent and ongoing water sample testing.
At this time, service line inventory records show there are no known lead service lines in the town water system. Lead service lines have been prohibited in Virginia plumbing code since 1979.
As of July 1, 2024, Blacksburg has 10,119 utility customers. The inventory has been verified through the use of historical data, 6,668 Town-owned and 6,581 customer-owned lead-free lines. The remaining service lines are designated as “unknown.” The town is working to assess these remaining lines and anticipate completion of this project by the October 16, 2024, deadline.
Blacksburg will utilize VDH-approved Statistical Method Modeling, based on the number of “unknown” service line types, to determine whether there are lead service lines in town. This approach uses a statistical sample size equation to calculate the number of Town-owned and private lines that will require physical verification of the pipe material. The verification process consists of excavating the Town-owned service lines at the water meter and visual inspection of private lines where it enters a building.
In a situation where lead is found, a replacement plan would be coordinated with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). If a private service line is found to be lead, the town will record the finding in the inventory, notify the property owner annually, and assist with the development of a replacement plan.
To learn more about the Town of Blacksburg Water Service Line Inventory visit LetsTalkBlacksburg