LCRR Inventory Project Self-Identification

Please be advised that an instruction mailer will be going out to Maynard residents regarding an upcoming town wide water service line review. Maynard Water Department is conducting this review to stay in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. We will be collecting data on the age of homes, water mains, and service lines in this water service inventory project. The mail notice will include detailed instructions for self-reporting information to assist the Town in this effort. It will also include information for scheduling a service line identification appointment. Thank you for your participation and supporting our Town and the community.

Service Line Identification Information with QR Codes

Service Line Inventory Identification QR

Lead Service Line Identification Link

Mass Lead Service Line Identification

Maynard DPW-Water Division had found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings during the 3rd quarter monitoring period, June - September 2022. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read the brochure below closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water. Maynard's sampling results had a 90th percentile result of 16 parts per billion (ppb), which is above the lead Action Level of 15ppb.US EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) require public water systems that exceed the lead action level to provide this notification to consumers. Lead is a health concern and is commonly found in the environment; most commonly in lead based paint. Lead can also be found in water, though at much lower levels. View the Lead in Drinking Water Brochure (PDF).

Dear Town of Maynard DPW Water Customer:

We are currently conducting a review of water service line materials in Maynard’s distribution system. A service line is the pipe that brings water from the water main in the street into a building, and generally consists of two parts; the “public” side, which runs from the water main to the curb stop (shutoff valve near the sidewalk or property line) and the “private” side, which runs from the curb stop into the building. In our water system, the Water Division is responsible for the “public” portion of the service line, while the property owner is typically responsible for the “private” portion, generally separated by the curb stop. In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent Lead and Copper Rule Revisions requirements, we are currently reviewing available records, including the age of your home and the water mains that serve it, and are consulting with current and former staff to conduct a comprehensive water service inventory to report to EPA.

During this process, we determined that we have incomplete information on the materials used for the

“private” portion of the service line at most addresses in the Town. This is typical of many water systems due to incomplete record information and documentation of materials that may date back 100 years or more. Because of this, we are providing you with the following information and the opportunity to assist the Town in this important initiative and self-identify the private side material of your water service or request an appointment for Water Division staff or approved consultants of the Water Division to do so.

Step 1: IDENTIFICATION

 There are more than 4,100 unique service lines in our community, and records indicate that most of them are made of copper. A small percentage may be made of plastic, galvanized steel, iron, or lead. To identify your service line material yourself, please take the following steps.

1. Find your water meter, which is typically located in the basement.
2. Look for the pipe that comes through the outside wall of your home and connects to your water meter.
3. Evaluate the color of this pipe. Does it appear to be plastic or metal? (See photos below)
4. If the pipe appears to be metal and you cannot determine the material by color alone, place a strong magnet on the pipe.
   1. If the magnet sticks, your pipe is likely galvanized steel or iron.
   2. If the magnet does not stick, your pipe is likely copper or lead.
      1. Copper pipe is identifiable from lead by its color but may have normal buildup on the outside of the pipe so a closer visual inspection may be necessary to see the copper color that is similar to a penny.

• Note: Please DO NOT attempt to scratch your service line for identification purposes. Depending on the material, this may damage the pipe and result in a leak.

Step 2: TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR SERVICE LINE AND UPLOAD

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has created a web-based application for consumers to submit information on their service line material to their public water supplier. You can access the Mass Lead Service Line Identification (MA-LSLI) Web App by scanning the QR code to the left or visiting the following link - https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f9ee39b7972f443ca63e8b936cd7f92b. The app may be accessed on any mobile device, tablet or computer with internet access and does not require you to download anything.

 All you need to do is take a photo of your service line, upload it to the app’s website and answer a few basic questions. Be sure to select Maynard as the City/Town and Maynard DPW (PWS ID: 2174000) as Your Water Supplier to ensure your submission is received.

WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN WE GET YOUR SUBMISSION?

Once we receive your submission, we will review the information and photo provided to confirm your service line material. If we are unable to confirm the material from the information provided, we will contact you to schedule an appointment for on-site inspection by a representative of Maynard DPW Water Division staff member or an authorized subcontractor.

ALTERNATIVE: SCHEDULE A SERVICE LINE IDENTIFICATION APPOINTMENT

If you are having difficulty identifying your service line material or navigating MassDEP’s web app, you can schedule a service line identification appointment with a Town of Maynard Water Division staff member instead. To do so, please send an email to DPW@townofmaynard.net with “Lead Service Line ID Appointment” in the subject line and include your name and address in the body of the email. You can also call our office at 978-897-1317 on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00am – 4:00pm, Tuesday from 8:00am – 7:00pm, or Friday from 8:00am – 12:00pm.

 We look forward to your interest and participation in this important water system inventory project!

 Respectfully,

 Town of Maynard DPW Water Division