In compliance with a 2021 update to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule, the City of North Bend has completed a thorough inventory of water service lines within its service area.
The review confirms that no lead is present in the city’s water infrastructure. The City of North Bend provides drinking water to homes and businesses within and around city limits.
The inspection found that the city’s water service lines are primarily copper or plastic. Less common materials, including ductile iron, cast iron, and galvanized pipes, were also identified.
The City remains committed to maintaining an adequate, reliable, clean, and safe drinking water supply for all customers. The City will continue documenting the type of water service lines encountered during construction or maintenance activities.
Understanding Lead and Water Service Lines
Lead is a naturally occurring substance found in air, soil, dust, water, and manufactured products such as paint, pottery, and pewter. Although lead was banned from new pipes and solder in 1986, it remains in some older plumbing. If ingested, lead can accumulate in the body and harm the brain, kidneys, and blood cells.
Lead can enter drinking water through several sources, including:
- Service lines made with lead connecting the water main to buildings
- Copper pipes with lead solder installed before 1986
- Faucets manufactured with lead
- Galvanized pipes connected to older lead pipes
A water service line is the pipe that links the water main under the street to a home or business. The City owns and maintains the section from the water main to the meter, while property owners are responsible for the section from the meter to the building.
How to Identify Your Service Line Material
Homeowners can identify the material of their service line by checking where it enters the home, typically in a basement or crawlspace. The City of North Bend is developing a new water system map displaying service line locations and material types.
Learn More About Lead in Drinking Water
- Visit the EPA’s Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water webpage
- Review the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule
- Explore the Washington State Department of Health’s Lead in Drinking Water webpage.
For questions about North Bend’s water system and service lines, contact Water Operations Manager Ted Stonebridge at tstonebridge@northbendwa.gov or call (425) 888-7693.
