Maine Water finds no lead after completing service line inventory ahead of EPA deadline

Maine Water employees, with help from customers, reviewed more than 37,000 water service lines to complete a service line inventory earlier this summer, well before the October deadline mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of new rules to identify lead water service lines across the country.

The federal agency has required every water utility in the country to document the material of customers’ water service lines in an effort intended to significantly reduce exposure to lead through drinking water. Maine Water owns and maintains the infrastructure and pipes up to the curb valve, which is typically located near the customer’s property line, with the customer owner responsible for the service line between the property line and the home, including inside the home.

Well ahead of an EPA deadline of Oct. 16, 2024, Maine Water employees dedicated a significant amount of time and effort over more than two years to ensure customers completed an online survey or scheduled an inspection, according to Mike Ames, Maine Water’s Director of Service Delivery.

“Our folks identified a total of 37,335 service lines, which is remarkable given our footprint across our large state of Maine,” Ames said. “We pulled out all the stops, using site visits, bill inserts, letters, emails, phone calls, door hangers, videos, social media, every avenue you can think of to connect with customers and we’re grateful for their cooperation and support. Our water professionals have a can-do attitude and we’re proud of them for having done this work with such determination.”

Ames reported that the survey results indicated no lead service lines in any of Maine Water’s water systems.

Locally, Maine Water’s plant in Biddeford provides water to households and businesses in Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and part of Scarborough.