No Lead is Good News: Customer Pipe Inventory Complete

The District treats and tests water to make sure that it is lead-free when it leaves the treatment facility to travel through water mains. All pipelines that carry water play an important role in the quality of the water that arrives at the tap. A comprehensive survey of the District’s pipes completed in 2018 detected no lead. However, older homes may have lead in customer service lines, household plumbing materials, and faucets. For this reason, the Environmental Protection Agency required all public water systems, including Montecito Water District, to conduct a Lead Service Line Inventory by October 16, 2024, with the goal of identifying any potential sources of lead in tap water associated with water service lines.

Between March and September 2024, the District’s qualified staff conducted an inventory using a State approved sampling process with an emphasis on properties built before 1986, the year the lead ban was enacted. No lead was apparent in any of the customer service lines examined. Results from more than 1,700 service lines indicate that copper is the most common pipe material, followed by plastic, and galvanized steel.

There is no identified “safe” level of lead, a powerful toxin that is harmful to human health. Infants, young children, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of lead because it accumulates in the body. If you have concerns that your household plumbing may be contributing lead to your drinking water, here are some steps you can take to reduce exposure:

-If water has not been used for several hours, run the tap to ensure you are getting fresh water that has not been stagnant in pipes or fixtures. 

-Use only cold water for drinking and cooking, and clean faucet aerators regularly to ensure they are free of lead particles. 

-Consider purchasing a home filter certified to remove lead.

Ultimately, the best way to protect your household is by eliminating all potential sources of lead. For more information, there are many resources available online including: 

https://drinktap.org/Water-Info/Whats-in-My-Water/Lead-In-Water

District customers who have any questions about the lead pipe inventory are encouraged to contact Adam Kanold, Assistant General Manager/Engineering Manager at (805) 969-2271.

Water delivered throughout the District is continuously treated and tested to ensure that it meets or exceeds Federal and State water quality standards in compliance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the State of California’s Water Resources Control Board requirements. Regulated water quality data are reported annually in the Consumer Confidence Report which can be found on the District’s web site at www.montecitowater.com.