Lead is not naturally occurring in treated drinking water but can enter drinking water through the leaching of lead-containing pipes and internal plumbing, particularly in older homes and buildings. Various regulations and practices protect against the leaching of lead, including corrosion control treatment and the removal of pipe and plumbing materials that may contain lead.
As of October 2024, EPA revised its regulations related to lead, known as the "Lead and Copper Rule Revisions" (LCRR).
The Commission is pleased to provide an online interactive map that includes an inventory of the 45,000 drinking water service lines within the Commission’s distribution system in Springfield and Ludlow. (A water service line connects a building or home to the drinking water main in the street.)
The map highlights the Commission’s proactive efforts since the 1990s to reduce the risk of lead exposure from drinking water, resulting in the elimination of all known lead service lines from the distribution system as of 2005.
The map is provided as a service to customers and in compliance with the LCRR.
Customers can use the map to search for their address and learn more about the service line material at their property. Either zoom into your property on the map or enter your address into the search bar.
Three categories of service line material types are denoted by map symbols:
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- Non-Lead: pipe material meets LCRR regulations
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- Galvanized Needs Replacement: the service line is made of galvanized material and may require replacement under the Commission’s Galvanized Service Line Replacement Program and EPA’s LCRR
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- Unknown material: an inspection is needed to confirm the material of the pipe
Customers that find their property identified as Galvanized Needs Replacement or Unknown material on the map should contact the Commission’s Field Customer Service Department at 413-310-3501 or cfs@waterandsewer.org to schedule an inspection appointment.
DISCLAIMER: The Service Line Inventory map is based on historical data, physical inspections, and information provided by customers and is intended for informational purposes only. These records will be updated and modified based on the best available information available to the Commission at the time of its update. The Commission does not make any representations or warranties as to the records contained herein and is not to be relied on for any commercial, transactional, or legal use. The Commission reserves the right to modify, alter, or remove any information displayed or contained herein. Customers should contact the Commission with questions or for more information.
Important Information about Lead and Drinking Water
Lead enters drinking water primarily by leaching from plumbing that contains lead, such as a lead service line that connects a home/building to the water main in the street, or from plumbing and fixtures inside the customer’s home. This is most likely to occur when the water is not moving for several hours (i.e. overnight or after a workday).
Preventing the leaching of lead into drinking water is regulated by EPA and MassDEP due to the potential health effects of lead. According to EPA:
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decrease 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 increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.
The Commission has taken multiple steps to minimize the risk of lead entering drinking water.
As of 2005 all known lead service lines have been removed. In addition, the Commission removed over 650 galvanized steel service lines starting in 2021 in order to meet compliance with the 2024 LCRR.
At the treatment plant, the water chemistry is adjusted to inhibit the corrosion of home plumbing (known as “corrosion control”). This treatment creates a coating within home plumbing that helps to minimize the risk of lead from leaching into water that has been sitting in the home’s plumbing and fixtures. The Commission samples for lead in accordance with water quality regulations to ensure the effectiveness of its corrosion control program.
An extra precaution you can take to reduce potential exposure is to flush the tap. Let the water run from the faucet before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water has gone unused for an extended period (i.e. overnight, or after returning home from a workday). This means running the cold water faucet until the water gets noticeably colder, usually about 30 seconds to two minutes. This ensures that the water being used is from the main in the street, rather than the water that has been sitting in the home plumbing.
Remember to use only cold water for cooking and drinking. Do not drink or cook with water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly than cold water.
In 1992, the Commission began a proactive program to remove lead service lines from the water system. As of November 2005, all known lead service lines in Springfield and Ludlow have been removed and replaced.
Customers can use the online Service Line Inventory Map to learn more about the service line at their property. Customers may also contact the Commission for more information on their service line. Detailed water service records may include date of installation and material.
The Commission is required to perform lead and copper testing in accordance with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and, as of October 16, 2024, the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).
The Commission completed a round of lead and copper testing in 2024 and was in compliance with lead and copper action levels:
2024 LEAD AND COPPER SAMPLE TABLE
Substance | MCGL | MCL | 90th Percentile Sample | Sample Sites Exceeding the Action Level | Violation | Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Copper (ppm) | 1.3 | AL = 1.3 | 0.0972 | 0 out of 50 | No | Corrosion of Household Plumbing Systems |
Lead (ppb) | 0 | AL = 15.0 | 0 | 1 out of 50 | NO | Corrosion of Household Plumbing Systems |
GLOSSARY:
AL = Action Level – The concentration of a contaminant that if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level – The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
ppm = parts per million
ppb = parts per billion
The Commission also participated in MassDEP’s LCRR Pilot Program from 2022-2024. As part of the pilot testing laboratory technicians from the Commission provided water quality/lead testing in 43 Springfield Public School buildings and also provided outreach on lead sampling to licensed daycares across Springfield.
Learn more: https://waterandsewer.org/commission-wins-taking-action-to-reduce-lead-award/
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) maintains a list of certified laboratories. Click here to access DEP’s online searchable laboratory listing. In the search criteria, select State (MA), Region (Western), and Analyte (Lead), then hit search.
The Commission publishes an annual water quality report which talks about the source of the drinking water, shows water quality results from the previous calendar year, and contains other important information about water and health. Click here for our most recent water quality report.