This fall, New Jersey American Water customers with unknown water service line material will receive a letter with helpful information about how to identify and report the material of the line that brings water into their homes. It’s part of New Jersey American Water’s statewide effort to help ensure safe, reliable water service by identifying and replacing all lead and galvanized service lines by 2031. It’s important that customers look out for this letter — which is a reminder that their service line material is still unknown and could be made of lead or galvanized steel.

In 2021, the State of New Jersey passed a law that requires all water service providers to identify the material of both utility and customer-owned service lines (the pipes that connect homes to the street water main). The legislation also requires utilities to inform customers if those service lines are made of lead or galvanized steel and, if so, replace them.

In response, New Jersey American Water developed the Lead Service Line Replacement Program in 2022. This comprehensive, educational program encourages customers to take a look at their pipes, test the material of their service line, and share their findings with New Jersey American Water.

What’s included in this letter?

As required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the letter will notify New Jersey American Water customers who haven’t yet self-reported and whose water lines are made from an unknown material. While New Jersey American Water’s water mains contain no lead, the service lines that carry the water into homes could.

Within the letter, customers will find more information about the Lead Service Line Replacement program and a required notice from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection regarding the unknown status of their service line material and additional steps to reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water.

What should homeowners do when they receive this letter?

Homeowners who receive the letter should locate and self-identify their service line material and report their findings back to New Jersey American Water.

But homeowners don’t need to wait for the letter to take action – they can use New Jersey American Water’s online customer service line map to check whether the material of their pipes is known today! If the material is unknown, customers are encouraged to self-identify their service line material as soon as possible. 

Watch this video to get started. Then, follow a few simple steps to locate the service line, test the material, and submit the results online. Customers who self-ID and report the material of their service line can disregard the letter.

If the service line is made of lead or galvanized steel, New Jersey American Water will work with customers to replace it with a new copper or plastic line at no additional cost in accordance with its Lead Service Line Replacement Plan.

Should homeowners be concerned if they receive this letter?

No, lead is rarely found in drinking water itself; it enters tap water when materials that contain lead, such as service lines and household plumbing fixtures like faucets, break down.

Customers can still use their water as they normally would, because the water provided by New Jersey American Water continues to meet state and federal water quality standards, including those set for lead. This next phase of the Lead Service Line Replacement Program focuses on education and action, and making sure no customers are left behind. It’s one of the many ways New Jersey American Water is helping to create a safe future for New Jersey residents.

Learn more about this program here.