Dover's water continues to meet, exceed safety standards

posted on 11/22/2024

Last week, many of the City of Dover’s water customers received a letter from the city informing them that the city does not know the material of their water service line pipe. Millions of people country-wide received similar notifications, fulfilling the federal Environmental Protection Agency requirements related to its Revised Lead and Copper Rule of 2021.

This notice regrettably worried many Dover residents who feared they had unknowingly been drinking water laced with lead. That is not the case for numerous reasons listed below.

First and foremost: Is my water safe to drink?

Yes. The City of Dover’s water system tests, treats and distributes high-quality, lead-free drinking water that meets and exceeds all state and federal requirements. The city obtains water from underground aquifers in Dover, which is pumped to water plants to be treated and then distributed to customers through underground water mains – all lead-free.

As all public water systems in the country do annually per EPA guidelines, the city sends its Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all water customers, also published online at bit.ly/DoverNHWaterQualityReports, where 20 years of reports are readily available. The CCR provides information on the city’s water sources and the results of its regular testing. The testing includes sampling from at least 100 homes, including all homes with lead solder in their plumbing, a once-accepted practice that has been outlawed for decades. The testing provides the level of any contaminants found, how it compares to EPA’s maximum containment level, and the health risk, if any.

The tests include lead levels. The EPA’s maximum containment level is 15 parts per billion (ppb), meaning 15 ppb is the highest level of lead the EPA allows in drinking water before it requires corrective action. Through its sampling, Dover’s lead level is 0.001 ppb, likely from homes with lead solder. The City of Dover is far, far below that maximum containment level.

How is city water treated?

Water is filtered through greensand to remove iron and manganese, disinfected with chlorine and fluoridated. The pH balance of the water is also adjusted as needed to ensure it is not acidic.

If I did have lead pipes or lead solder in my plumbing, is the city doing anything to prevent it from leaching into my water?

The city has for decades or more utilized a water corrosion prevention protocol. Essentially, the city monitors and adjusts the pH level of the water to ensure it is not acidic. Highly acidic stagnant water in contact with metal plumbing, such as copper, lead, and iron, allows metals to leach into the water. That is why the EPA recommends those who know or suspect they have lead in their plumbing to run their water for at least a minute or more before use: it flushes out all the stagnant water in contact with lead pipes. Lead can’t leach into running water. The EPA also recommends using cold water, as hot water provides a greater opportunity for metals to leach into the water.

The lack of corrosion control was a significant factor leading to the Flint, Michigan lead health crisis last decade. It began after a 2014 cost-cutting decision to switch the city’s water supply from Lake Huron (via Detroit's water system) to the Flint River. The Flint River water is more acidic (i.e. more corrosive) than Lake Huron; however, the pH level was not properly balanced. The untreated corrosive water allowed lead to leach from aging lead pipes into the drinking water, exposing the public to dangerous lead levels. The crisis was compounded by governmental negligence, delayed action, and inadequate response to residents’ concerns.

Why are these letters being sent about service lines now?

The EPA’s Revised Lead and Copper Rule of 2021 requires public water systems country-wide to send notification letters to customers if their water service line is made of lead, galvanized steel that is or was downstream of lead, or unknown materials. All letters sent by Dover were notices of unknown service line materials. The notification letters also explain the health risks of lead exposure, share simple precautions to minimize health effects from lead, and where to find more information about lead safety. The letter does not mean that lead is present in your drinking water.

Lead pipes and lead solder were banned countrywide in 1986 by the U.S. Safe Water Drinking Act, and the 1991 EPA Lead and Copper Rule. In fact, Dover and many other communities across the country already phased lead out decades earlier. However, due to inadequate record keeping, the city does not know definitively what the material used for service lines for many homes, even for some of those constructed after lead pipes were federally outlawed. Per EPA regulations, these homes are also required to receive an unknown service material notification, even though the likelihood of lead being used is non-existent.

How can I determine my service line material?

The City of Dover staff is available to help you determine the material of your water service line at no cost. You can help by finding and taking a picture of the pipe that comes into your water meter, usually in the basement. That is your service line. To schedule an inspection or to upload a picture of your service line for verification, visit https://service.dover.nh.gov/RequestPortal. Enter your name, email, phone number and address. Select ‘Public Works – Water’ from the ‘Select an Issue Category’ drop-down menu, and ‘LSLI Inspection’ from the ‘Select an Issue’ menu. Click here for an example. You may also call Community Services at 603-516-6450.

Identifying the service line material inside a building takes less than 30 minutes without water service disruption. If you are due for a new water meter, both can occur at the same time at no cost. In some cases, staff may need to investigate outside the home or building; this will also not impact water service.

Are all homes at risk?

No. We are specifically concerned about water service lines made of lead, or galvanized steel pipe that may have been attached to a lead connector or ‘gooseneck’, which is a short flexible piece of pipe often made of lead, once commonly used to connect service lines to water mains. When Dover Water Works was established in 1888, galvanized steel pipes were the standard service line material. Due to its rigidness, pliable lead pipe “goosenecks” connected the galvanized service lines to the main, allowing the seasonal expansion/contraction ground movement. The city believes – though not certain – this practice ended by the mid-20th century, as copper became more available. Since then, the city has utilized copper or drinking water-grade plastic for service lines.

For decades the City of Dover has proactively replaced any known lead material used in service lines, either through renewing water services during street reconstruction projects, or from water leaks, as galvanized services have a propensity to leak. However, there may be instances where lead still exists, often in older homes.

I received a mailer about signing up for a plumbing protection plan. Do I need one?

Some residents have notified the city about receiving a letter from a company offering insurance for large plumbing projects. Before making any monetary commitments, the City of Dover recommends residents contact the city to help identify their water service line material.

I’m concerned I have lead pipes. What can I do now to reduce exposure?

Identify and replace any lead materials in your water system, including faucets, valves, and soldered joints. Contact the City of Dover Community Services Department to help confirm your service line materials. In the meantime, you can follow the following steps to reduce lead exposure:

• Run your water to flush out lead for a minute or more to flush out the system, especially if the water hasn’t been used in several hours.
• Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula.
• For those who are pregnant, or for infants and young children, consider using bottled water or use water filters certified for lead removal.
• Clean the faucet screen (also known as aerator) regularly.

What is a water service line?

It’s the pipe delivering drinking water from the water main to homes, businesses and schools. It includes a shutoff valve known as a curbstop at the property line that delineates maintenance and upkeep responsibilities.

Who owns and maintains water service lines?

Property owners own and maintain the service line section on their property. Ownership of the curbstop and service line between the curbstop and water main depends on the ownership of the water main.

• Publicly-owned water mains: On publicly owned or maintained streets, the city owns and maintains the main, curb stop, and service line to the property line.
• Privately-owned water mains: The city does not own or maintain any part of these water mains and service lines, which are found in most private subdivisions governed by a homeowner’s association (HOA). Service line ownership depends on the HOA contract.

What are the 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 exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have an increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

For more information, contact Community Services at 603-516-6450.