Questions about the letter you received?
On November 15, notices were mailed to about 50,000 Toledo water customers to comply with new EPA guidelines. The new annual notice is required to be mailed to water customers who have:
- Confirmed lead on the city OR customer side of the service line
- Confirmed galvanized on the city OR customer side of the service line
- Unknown material on the city OR customer side of the service line
Program Overview
We ensure Toledo's water is safe, clean, and distributed efficiently to all customers.
The City's lead service line replacement program proactively identifies and removes water service lines made of lead at both the city's side and the customer's side of the connection.
The multi-year project will remove and replace all lead drinking water service lines as part of a national and state-wide initiative to protect residents from potential exposure to lead in their drinking water.
All customer side replacements are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. The city's contractor will replace customer side lead lines at no cost to the property owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my water safe?
Yes. To keep our customers safe the department has been utilizing specific water chemistry to coat the pipes and services in our system, encasing any lead or harmful particles allowing for safe clean drinking water. Required annual lead testing has consistently shown our water is free of lead and safe to drink.
What does this notice I received in the mail mean?
Each year we send notification letters to customers with known lead lines, known galvanized lines that need replacement, and unknown lines on either the city side or customer side. The letters provide information for residents in each category and should be posted or shared amongst residents in multi-unit buildings.
Galvanized Requiring Replacement Service Line Notice
Why are you replacing lines?
Toledo Public Utilities has replaced city-owned lead service lines for 20 years through its water main replacement program and over the past few years, lead service lines have also been replaced as part of the roadway reconstruction program, when encountered during service repairs, and whenever private property owners replace their lead service lines.
How does Toledo supply water?
The city of Toledo supplies water to a population of approximately 500,000 people located in the city and surrounding areas including parts of Lucas, Wood, and Fulton Counties, and south Monroe County in Michigan. Consumers are supplied potable water through a large, complex system owned and operated by the city of Toledo. The system provides approximately 75 million gallons per day (MGD) of water.
The system is managed by the city of Toledo, Department of Public Utilities, Division of Water Treatment, under the authority of the Mayor and City Council with direction provided by the Toledo Regional Water Commission.
How much will this cost me?
There is no cost to the property owner for replacement. The project is being funded by grants, not through service fees or assessments.
Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), EPA Environmental Justice Grant, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Ohio EPA Water Replacement Loan Program will be used for this program.
If my lead service line is replaced, will all of the lead be removed from my drinking water?
No. If you live in a home that was built prior to 1986, it is possible that lead solder was used to connect the pipes within your home.
If you suspect that you have lead solder based on the age of your home, flush your water for approximately 1 to 3 minutes when the water system has not been used for more than 6 hours.
What should I do after my lead service line is replaced?
The lead service line replacement may cause changes in water quality, including the possibility of a temporary increase in lead levels in the drinking water.
If the private side service line is copper, you should simply flush your water lines.
If the private side service line is not copper, the City of Toledo will provide residents with water filters that are certified to remove lead. Use this filter for all water used for drinking and cooking.
You will need to flush your water. Open all taps in your home and allow the water to run for 30 minutes.
Does the City perform a lead test on my water supply after the service line has been replaced?
Yes. After we replace the city's side of the line will provide a sample bottle and instructions to anyone who has galvanized or lead lines on the customer's side. Test results will be delivered within 30 days. If lead is present in the sample, we will be in touch before that. We might ask for a second sample.
Water Service Inventory Map
Download the 2024 Lead Service Line Inventory
Not sure if your service line pipe material is lead?
If your water service material is listed as unknown on the Water Service Line Inventory or map, you can perform a simple test at home and let us know your results below!
How it works
City Side Replacement
Toledo has a plan to replace lead service lines between the water main and the curb stop, or on the city side of the water service line. This multi-year project will follow existing and future road construction and waterline replacement projects already in the city's plans.
The City of Toledo's Division of Water Distribution crews, or the contractor, will complete a full replacement of the city side of the service line. City-side replacement will involve digging in the road and public right-of-way. The lead service line will be replaced from the water main to the curb stop shut-off at the public right-of-way. The replacement may take up to 3 days, but disruption in water service will last less than 6 hours.
Customer Side Replacement
The Division of Water Distribution will replace all identified customer-side lead service lines at no cost to the property owner.
A city contractor will perform the customer side replacement. This will follow the same process as the city side replacement, but digging will take place on your property instead of the public right-of-way. The contractor will be responsible for the excavation and restoration of your property.
All customer side lines were inspected during the AMI meter replacements, so all but about 6,000 customer lines have been inspected. Only about 100 known customer-owned lead lines remain.
Notification Letter Sent
45 days prior to a lead line replacement, the city of Toledo will send a letter to the service address notifying the customer of their upcoming replacement.
After Replacement
Working on the lead line can temporarily disturb lead particles that may affect your water quality. Once your replacement is finished, city workers will provide you with a free water filter to use as a precaution. Depending on the material of the service ine, you may also receive a smaple bottle and instructions for collecting and submitting a sample for review. You should also flush your pipes by letting cold run from all taps for 30 minutes.
More Information
Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that there is no known safe level of lead in a child's blood. Taking action to reduce these exposures can improve outcomes. Lead is harmful to health, especially for children.
epa.govAbout Lead
Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment. In the past, lead was used in gasoline, paint, metals, bullets, and batteries. We now know that lead has many hazardous health effects, and so lead has been banned or significantly reduced in these products.
odh.ohio.govCommunity and utility efforts to replace lead service lines
Environmental Defense Fund has identified communities that have publicly set a goal of fully replacing all lead service lines (LSLs) in their jurisdiction.
edf.org