The City of Plymouth has completed and submitted its water service line materials inventory to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The service line inventory is publicly available, and residents and business owners can check the materials for their service lines by visiting the Lead Inventory Tracking Tool at https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/ or by contacting the City of Plymouth Utilities Division at 763-509-5950.

To complete the service line inventory, Plymouth reviewed existing records and requested information through an online survey to determine the status of service lines.

The City of Plymouth has not identified any lead or galvanized service lines in the system. As of Aug. 30, 2024, the City of Plymouth’s inventory contains 0 lead, 0 galvanized requiring replacement, 4,887 unknown material and 20,172 non-lead service lines.

Participate in the Survey/Inventory

The City of Plymouth began publicizing the availability of a survey earlier this year to help property owners identify the materials that comprise their water service lines – pipes that connect homes/businesses to the city’s underground water mains. All Plymouth water customers who have not yet completed the survey are asked to participate. Click the button below to complete the survey.

The survey helps determine whether a property’s water pipes are made of plastic, copper, galvanized steel or lead. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete.

The survey involves entering an address, pipe material information (with identification assistance/instructions) and uploading a photo of the property’s water service line connection, which is typically located below the water meter. Water meters can usually be found in a basement utility room, crawl space or located near an exterior tap. Contact information is also requested in the survey so that communication from the city can be streamlined moving forward.

For assistance completing the survey or determining service line material, contact the City of Plymouth Utilities Division at 763-509-5950.

Health Effects of Lead

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or worsen existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these negative health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney, or nervous system problems.

Steps You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes links where you may find more information and is not intended to be a complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water. 

Use a filter. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, see EPA’s https://www.epa.gov/water-research/consumer-tool-identifying-point-use-and-pitcher-filters-certified-reduce-lead.

Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.

Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.  

Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes providing water to your home, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home. Residents may contact the Utilities Division as 763-509-5950 for recommendations about flushing times.

Learn what your service line material is. Check the materials for your service line by visiting the Lead Inventory Tracking Tool at https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/. If your address is classified as "unknown," you're encouraged to participate in the city's online survey, which provides information on how to identify your service line material. If the information online is inadequate, contact the Utilities Division at 763-509-5950 or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead, galvanized, or other materials.

Alternatively, you can use this step-by-step guide called Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead. It is available at: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/protect-your-tap-quick-check-lead.

Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Visit plymouthmn.gov/projectspotlight to find out about any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your service line. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line or galvanized service line if present.

Have your water tested. Contact the Utilities Division at 763-509-5950 to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water. Alternatively, you can contact a MDH accredited laboratory through the website https://eldo.web.health.state.mn.us/public/accreditedlabs/labsearch.seam to purchase a sample container and instructions on how to submit a sample. Note, a water sample may not adequately capture or represent all sources of lead that may be present. For information on sources of lead that include service lines and interior plumbing, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#getinto

Understand Blood Lead Testing

In Minnesota, elevated blood lead levels are most associated with lead exposure from lead paint and dust. Water is rarely the cause of elevated blood lead levels. If you have concerns about childhood lead exposure, check with your family doctor, pediatrician, or health care provider to determine if a blood test for lead is recommended. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about health effects of lead and how you can have your child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) or more. For more information and links to CDC’s website, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water. MDH also has Lead Information for Families at https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/families.html.

Lead Service Line Replacement

To date, Plymouth has not identified any lead or galvanized service lines in the system, therefore replacement of lead or galvanized service lines is not an ongoing effort in the city. This is not the case for all water systems throughout the state. For additional information on the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, please visit: MDH Lead Service Line Replacement Program Facts: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/lslrprogram.html

For more information about lead in drinking water visit the MDH webpage at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/lead.html

For more information on steps you can take to reduce lead in drinking water, visit the City of Plymouth Service Line Inventory webpage at: plymouthmn.gov/serviceline