Lead Protection for Longmont Water

Safe and Reliable Water

The City of Longmont is committed to providing high quality, reliable drinking water. We want to assure you that Longmont’s drinking water is safe for you to use. Our treated drinking water consistently surpasses state and federal standards; additional information can be found in the City’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

Lead and Drinking Water

In recent years, there has been greater national awareness of the potential health risks of lead in drinking water. Managing lead in water is a public health responsibility that is shared among water utilities, consumers, manufacturers, regulators, plumbers and more.

The water leaving Longmont’s water treatment facility is effectively lead-free, and our water testing confirms lead does not come from our water supplies or the City’s water main lines. Longmont’s water is also treated to reduce corrosion potential, reducing the opportunity for lead to enter your water. Longmont water has been tested for lead for over 20 years and results have been well below regulatory limits. However, lead may be present in older homes’ plumbing and service lines so we are working with customers to identify and reduce those risks.

Help us Determine if You Have a Lead Water Service Line

If your home was built in 1959 or earlier, please complete the Service Line Questionnaire. It's easy to test for lead pipes, learn how by watching the following video or by watching the Spanish version, Es fácil realizar pruebas para líneas de servicio de plomo.
Those living in homes built in 1960 or later do not need to complete the questionnaire per the recommendation of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment because no lead water service lines have been found in Colorado associated with building structures constructed after 1960.
Longmont Water customers will be asked to provide information and photos of where the service line enters the house. Contact us if you would like the City to perform the inspection or if you need assistance by emailing WaterQuality@longmontcolorado.gov or calling 303-651-8416.
If the results indicate a potential lead service line, the City will follow up to coordinate the next steps. Having a lead service line does not necessarily mean you have lead in your water.

It's Important to Identify the Presence of Lead

In 1982, the City required all service line material to be copper, PVC or other materials that do not contain lead. Prior to 1982, there is the possibility that lead piping could have been used for the service lines that connect older homes to the City’s water system. Despite numerous repairs and pipe replacements throughout the City, Longmont staff have never observed lead service lines.

Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing that contains lead corrodes or deteriorates allowing the lead to seep into the water. As water runs through lead service lines or plumbing, the lead can dissolve or break off into tiny particles – ending up in drinking water. Exposure to lead over a long period may cause health effects, so it’s important to identify its presence and remove any source that may contaminate water as it enters a home or building. You can learn about potential health impacts on the EPA’s Learn About Lead webpage.

Illustration of a water and wastewater service line from home to street. The illustration shows the homeowner responsible for the waterline from their water meter to the curb stop connection. The City is responsible from the water main line to the curb stop.

Ver el gráfico en español.

As shown in the diagram above, the City owns the water service line that runs from the main water line to the curb stop or property line. The customer owns the service line that runs from the curb stop or property line into their house, which includes the curb stop and water meter.

Inspection Program Beginning in 2023

In 2023, the City will begin inspecting approximately 350 randomly selected properties with build dates prior to 1982. Customers at these locations will receive advance notifications about what to expect during the process. Having a lead service line does not necessarily mean a customer has lead in their drinking water. Part of the inspection process may involve water sampling and testing.

The new EPA rules require all water utilities to create a mapped inventory of water service line materials and make it publicly available by October 2024. This comprehensive inventory will guide the City’s program to replace lead service lines if any are found during this inspection program.

Important Steps Customers Should Take

Work with our team if you are notified about an inspection

Watch for notification letters and door hangers about inspection work.
The City may need to dig one or two small holes in the yard over the service line, to allow workers to visually inspect the pipes.
Any disruption to the landscape will be restored at no cost to you within approximately four weeks, weather permitting. Once the landscape is restored, it may take several months for it to reestablish especially if the work occurred in the fall or winter. After the work is complete, you can contact the City by calling 303-651-8416 if there are any additional concerns.
NOTE: City employees will always drive a marked vehicle and have identification. Any contractors working for the City will have a letter from the City authorizing them to complete specific tasks for this project.
If you would like to be added to the lead inspection list, email your first and last name, address, and phone number to WaterQuality@longmontcol orado.gov.

Take these steps if you suspect a lead service line or plumbing

Use a water filter that is labeled as NSF/ANSI certified. Filter water for drinking, making tea and coffee; when cooking food like rice, pasta, beans and soup; and for preparing baby formula. Follow manufacturer recommendations on filter replacements. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Never run hot water through the water filter.
Inspect plumbing and fixtures installed prior to 1987 inside homes and buildings. If your fixtures are not lead-free, replace them and/or use certified filters before drinking, cooking, or other consumption. See EPA information How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products, and consult with a licensed plumber for help.
Clean out faucet aerators (the small screen added to the end of a faucet) as they may have trapped particles from older service lines. Not sure how to clean a faucet aerator? Watch a video demonstration from Today’s Homeowner to learn how. [link: https://todayshomeowner.com/video/cleaning-a-faucet-aerator]
Run your water to flush out lines if they haven’t been used in several hours. Activities such as showering, doing laundry, cleaning or watering houseplants will help flush lines while conserving water before using for consumption.
Always use cold water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula. You cannot boil lead out of water.
Never cook with or drink water from the hot water tap.

Learn More

Longmont is committed to working with business and residential property owners, as well as childcare centers, to identify potential lead service lines, test water for lead and take appropriate actions based on those results. Here are some helpful resources: