On January 15, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its regulations on water service line inspections. The purpose of these inspections is to determine what materials service lines are made of and remove lead and copper materials from California’s drinking water systems. To meet these new regulations, Livermore Municipal Water will begin inspecting all service lines. These inspections are expected to continue through the end of 2023.

What is a Service Line?

A service line is the pipe that connects a property to the water main. Livermore Municipal Water owns and maintains the pipe section from the water main to the water meter. The property owner owns and maintains the pipe section from the water meter to the property itself.

New Water Service Line Inspection Regulations

In 2017, the EPA required drinking water utilities to inspect all their service lines from the water main to the water meter and remove any lead service lines and fittings that were found. Livermore Municipal Water inspected its service lines and did not find any lead materials.

The EPA’s new regulations now require Livermore Municipal Water to inspect the entire service line, regardless of ownership. After these inspections are complete, Livermore Municipal Water will create a database for the EPA showing all the materials its service lines are made of.

What You Need to Know About These Inspections

While Livermore Municipal Water staff are inspecting your service line, they may need to stand in front of your property or in your front yard. The property owner does not need to be home while the inspection is taking place.

Livermore Municipal Water staff will be easily identifiable by their City of Livermore uniforms and vehicles. If you are unsure if someone is a City of Livermore employee, ask to see their City employee identification card.

Since the buildings within Livermore Municipal Water’s service area were built after lead pipes were no longer installed, we do not anticipate finding any lead service lines during our inspections. However, if Livermore Municipal Water does find a lead service line, the property owner will be notified.

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