FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2024

Charlottesville Utilities Finds No Evidence of Lead Pipes in Service Lines

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The Charlottesville Department of Utilities takes great pride in providing safe, high-quality water to the community, and is proud to announce that it has completed the federally mandated Lead Service Line Inventory ahead of schedule. After diligent work, the Department of Utilities has found no evidence of lead water service lines in either the City or private distribution system. As part of this project, the department created an online dashboard and interactive map for the community to learn more and view the inventory.

In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency released revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule, requiring all water providers to identify and create an inventory of all water service lines within their distribution system. The goal of the inventory was to identify and replace lead service lines that may still be in existence. The Department of Utilities began working on this project in January of 2022, using previous studies, City Code research, and water quality testing to complete the Lead Service Line Inventory. In 2023, to further enhance its efforts, the Department of Utilities implemented a statistical methodology derived from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, known as the EGLE method, to identify locations where lead water lines could be present. The locations identified by the EGLE method were field verified and no lead service lines were found.

The Department of Utilities will continue to collect data to improve our inventory. If you wish to participate or find out more about our program, including the online dashboard and interactive map, please visit www.charlottesville.gov/waterquality.

Media Contact
Ryan Willis
Utilities Public Engagement Coordinator
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3686
willisr@charlottesville.gov