February 2024
Bristol County Water Authority
Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Dear Bristol County Water Authority Customer:
The Bristol County Water Authority (“BCWA”) is reaching out to you because our records indicate you have a lead, galvanized steel, or iron water service line that supplies water to your property. Under the Lead and Copper Rule promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Rhode Island Lead Water Supply Replacement Act, these types of services are to be replaced with non-lead components as part of a nationwide push to remove all lead and lead potential materials from water systems. This notice will provide you with information to understand what actions you can take to prevent lead exposure and what BCWA is doing to address lead in the water system. We have also included documents to provide you with additional information. Enclosed please review the Drinking Water Consumer Notice and EPA Sources of Lead in Drinking Water.
Service Lines
As indicated above, BCWA has determined that the service line (see illustration below) that supplies water to your property is made of, lined with, or contains materials consisting of lead, galvanized steel or iron.
Why am I receiving this Notice now?
Under the new Rhode Island law, “Lead service lines” are broadly defined as any part of a public-side or private-side service line that is made of, lined with, or contains materials consisting of, lead, galvanized steel or iron.
Lead Service Replacement – Relevant Laws, Regulations and Guidelines
Recent updates to state legislation and federal regulations intended to reduce lead in drinking water have resulted in new service line inventory and lead service line replacement requirements. These include the Rhode Island Lead Water Supply Replacement Act (R.I.G.L. § 23-24.6-28) and amendments to the federal Lead and Copper Rule, known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). These laws require the BCWA to, among other things, do the following:
- Prepare an inventory of all public and private-side service lines connected to the BCWA’s distribution system that classifies the lines as lead service lines, non-lead service lines, or lead status unknown service lines. BCWA has made considerable progress on the inventory. An online map of water service line materials is accessible at https://bcwari.com/map-room/.
- Submit an initial service line inventory to the Rhode Island Department of Health (“RIDOH”) by October 16, 2024.
- Once the BCWA has identified a public-side lead, galvanized steel or iron service line, it must inspect the private side of any such service lines at no cost to the property owner to determine if lead, galvanized iron, or galvanized steel is present. If any such materials are detected in any service line, the public-side and private-side service line must be replaced.
- The law requires that all lead service lines must be replaced over the next 10 years. BCWA is planning to remove all public side lead components this year.
BCWA’s Inspection Plan
The BCWA is building an inventory of lead service lines and is now preparing to inspect the private side of these lines that our records indicate to be constructed of lead, galvanized, or unknown materials. Over the next couple of weeks, BCWA will be visiting your property to inspect whether your private-side service line is a lead service line. The inspection will be conducted by a BCWA employee and will require access to your water meter.
If the inspection shows that your private-side water service is comprised of non-lead components, i.e., copper or plastic, there will be no further action required by you with respect to improvements to your service line. BCWA will be providing you with a water filter to be used during and after replacement of the public portion of your service line.
If an inspection shows that your water service is comprised of lead or galvanized components, the BCWA will provide you with a Lead Service Line Replacement Agreement for your review, and we will follow up with discussions associated with replacement options.
Please note that if you refuse to allow an inspection of your property, this refusal must be reported to RIDOH.
In addition, if the property is a rental property, and the owner of the property refuses to allow an inspection or is otherwise unresponsive, the Rhode Island Lead Water Supply Replacement Act provides that a tenant shall be entitled to make a second (2nd) request to the property owner for a service line inspection. If the property owner refuses or fails to respond within sixty (60) days, the tenant shall have the option to terminate the lease. Upon termination, the property owner may not withhold the tenant’s security deposit based upon the tenant’s exercise of their termination rights under this section.
BCWA Lead Service Line Replacement Program
BCWA has plans to engage a contractor to replace all identified public-side lead service lines. The contractor is expected to begin this replacement work in Spring/Summer, 2024. As part of this project, BCWA’s contractor can also replace the private side of each lead service line if agreed to and authorized by the customer. The authorization and terms of this private-side replacement will be set forth in the Lead Service Line Replacement Agreement referenced above.
As set forth in the Lead Service Line Replacement Agreement, the cost of each private-side replacement will be determined by the BCWA and its contractor, and the cost can be paid via a no-interest payment plan approved by BCWA’s Board of Directors. It should be noted that pursuant to the Rhode Island Lead Water Supply Replacement Act, any water supplier that provides financing to its customers for private side lead service replacement may be eligible for reimbursement from the State for costs associated with private side lead service replacements financed by its customers. However, State reimbursement shall be subject to appropriation by the general assembly. As such, the BCWA cannot guarantee that it will receive reimbursement to distribute to customers for costs incurred in connection with their private side lead service replacement project.
In addition, if the property is a rental property, and the owner of the property refuses to allow a replacement of a private-side service or is otherwise unresponsive, the Rhode Island Lead Water Supply Replacement Act provides that a tenant shall be entitled to make a second (2nd) request to the property owner for a service line replacement. If the property owner refuses or fails to respond within sixty (60) days, the tenant shall have the option to terminate the lease. Upon termination, the property owner may not withhold the tenant’s security deposit based upon the tenant’s exercise of their termination rights under this section.
Immediate Steps You Can Take to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water
Reducing exposure to lead is a priority for the BCWA. The simplest, and most immediate, way to minimize exposure to lead in drinking water is flushing. When tap water has been sitting in the pipes for several hours, such as overnight, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for thirty (30) seconds to two (2) minutes, or until the water becomes noticeably cooler, before using the water for drinking or cooking.
Lead does not naturally occur in water. Lead from service lines can get into the drinking water as the metal in old pipes wears away. The treatment and corrosion control practices implemented by our water supplier, Providence Water, is targeted to prevent the release of lead into the water. The BCWA system has never exceeded the regulatory limit for the sampling of lead.
Some water filters can remove lead from water. To request a water filter, please contact BCWA and a filter pitcher and six month supply of filters will be provided to you, along with filter use instructions. Additional information related to the sources of lead, health effects, and mitigation efforts are detailed in the attached Consumer Notice.
To request a water filter pitcher, have your water tested, or have any questions, please contact our office at 401-245-2022.
Thank you for your cooperation.