York Water Company
FAQ for Lead
Updated October 25, 2016.
Q: Is there lead in the water supply?
No. Water that leaves our filter plant and flows thru our water mains is of the highest quality and does not
have lead.
Q: Can you explain the testing and results?
York Water just completed its lead test sampling, which is required every 3 years. Per DEP and EPA
guidelines, we are required to test 50 high-risk customers to see if there’s any lead at their water tap. DEP
and EPA designate a threshold that if more than 5 of those 50 tests exceed their action level of 15 PPB, then
we need to initiate additional activities to reduce the amount of lead in the water. We had 6 samples exceed
the action level.
Q: Who does this affect?
This news only impacts our customers that have a lead service line. Because we stopped installing lead
service lines in 1934 and have replaced many of the original lines, less than 3% of the properties in our
service area have a York Water lead service line. Most all of the other 97 percent of York Water customers
have copper, plastic, or steel lines and are likely not impacted.
Q: How do I know if I’m impacted?
We sent those customers with a company-owned lead service line a letter this week. This letter went to 3% of
our customers, or 1,660 properties. If you don’t receive a letter and your house was built after 1934, you
shouldn’t be impacted.
Q: If I receive a letter does that mean I have a lead problem?
Just because you have a lead service line, it does not mean you have a problem. Only a small portion of lead
service lines may be exceeding the action level.
Q: What is York Water required to do after it exceeds the action level?
The Department of Environmental Protection requires us to notify all of our customers, provide education on
how to reduce lead in water, and begin replacing 7% of the company-owned lead service lines per year. We
are not required to replace the customer-owned lead service line.
Q: What will York Water do if I have a company-owned lead service line?
York Water is going above and beyond the requirements. We have already been replacing 7% of the service
lines, so we will increase that to 25% per year and also:
 We will offer to test your water for free
 We will replace the entire lead service line, from water main to your house, at no charge to you over
the next 3-4 years.
 We will give you a 200 gallon credit per month for flushing until we get your lead service line replaced.
York Water is offering to test all of our lead service line customers’ water, at no charge, to verify how much
lead may be coming from the pipes. As we get test results back, we’ll make sure if a property does have a
higher reading, we’ll schedule their lead service line for early replacement. In the meantime, simple flushing
will solve the problem.
Q: Is York Water replacing all company-owned lead service lines, even if the test shows good
results?
Yes. The American Water Works Association recently stated that all lead service lines should be replaced.
York Water will be working with our customers to eliminate all of our lead service lines over the next 3-4
years as a potential source of lead so that we work towards making York a “lead free” community.
Q: If I don’t have a lead service line, could I be impacted? Do I need a test?
No. None of the customers we sampled that had copper, iron, or plastic service lines had any lead issues.

 Q: If I didn’t receive a letter, do I have anything to worry about?
Only if your house was built before 1935. In that case, your customer-owned service line could be made of
lead.
Q: What’s the difference between a company-owned and customer-owned lead service line?
In most water systems, including ours, the utility doesn’t own the entire service line. York Water owns from
the water main to the curb line. The property owner is responsible for the service from the curb line into
house. Since we didn’t install the customer-owned service our records don’t indicate what material it is made
of, but if it was after 1934, it is likely not lead.
Q: What if I live in a pre-1935 house and I didn’t get a letter but I’ve discovered I have a customerowned lead service line?
York Water is going above and beyond the requirements and if you request it, we will provide:
 A free test of your water
 If the test results come back above the action level, we’ll provide 200 gallons credit per month for
flushing until your lead service line is replaced, or a follow on test shows the water to be below the
action level.
 After we complete the replacement of our company-owned service lines over the next 3-4 years, we
will be proposing a plan to replace customer-owned lead service lines.
Q. I have a lead service line. How can I reduce lead in my water?
1. Flush Your Lines. So, if you live in a pre-1935 house, and do have a lead service line, there are
precautions customers can take to reduce any lead that has accumulated in your pipes. Simply run
your faucet for 3 minutes, or flush a toilet and then run your faucet for 2 minutes, (a total of about 3
gallons of water), first thing in the morning and first thing when you come home from work will greatly
reduce any lead that may have accumulated in your pipes.
2. Only use cold water for eating and drinking. Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking,
cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead.
Run cold water until it becomes as cold as it can get. Note that boiling water will NOT get rid of lead
contamination. Once you have flushed the line, fill a pitcher and put it in the fridge for drinking water.
3. Use water filters or treatment devices. Many water filters and water treatment devices are
certified by independent organizations for effective lead reduction. Devices that are not designed to
remove lead will not work. Verify the claims of manufacturers by checking with independent certifying
organizations that provide lists of treatment devices they have certified:
-NSF International
-Water Quality Association
-Underwriters Laboratories also provides drinking water product certification services for drinking
water products and chemicals.
York Water’s Lead Information pamphlet at ww.yorkwater.com provides additional information.
So, to conclude…
Water that leaves our filter plant and flows thru our water mains does not have lead.
Because we stopped installing lead service lines in 1935 and have replaced many of the original lines, this
amounts to fewer than 3% of the properties in our service area, however, there may be other pre-1935
homes that have a lead service line on the customer’s side, and any customer with a lead service line, out of
an abundance of caution, should run about 3 gallons of water out of their tap, or about 3 minutes, if the line
has been sitting idle for over 6 hours.
York Water recognizes that lead in our communities needs to be eliminated, whether its paint in old houses,
or lead in plumbing. York Water, as a member of our community for 200 years, will be working with our
customers to eliminate our lead service lines over the next 3-4 years as a potential source of lead.