Frequently Asked Questions
As part of the effort at continuous infrastructure improvement and to provide the highest quality service to our customers, the Licking County Water and Wastewater Department has contracted with GPD Group to do Lead Service Line identification for a future replacement project in the Harbor Hills and Maple Bay Communities. This project is being paid for by Licking County Water and Wastewater through the American Rescue Plan funds at no cost to residents.
The US EPA requires community water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), also known as an annual drinking water quality report, to their customers. These reports provide Americans information about their local drinking water quality. A copy of the CCR can be downloaded from the Licking County Water/Wastewater Department here: Licking County Water/Wastewater CCR’s
As a precaution, Licking County Water & Wastewater is offering water filters which are certified to remove lead. Water filters are only needed during service disruptions and will be available to affected properties at that time, which is anticipated to start in June or July depending on construction, location, and sequencing. Filters can be picked up at the Licking County Water & Wastewater Department at: 4455 Walnut Rd, Suite A, Buckeye Lake, Ohio 43008
Click on the links below.
- Ohio EPA Lead Website
- Ohio EPA Certified labs that test for lead
- USEPA’s lead website, “Protect You Family from Sources of Lead”
- USEPA’s lead website, “Basic Information About Lead in Drinking Water”
- CDC, “Childhood Lead Poisioning Prevention Program”
- AWWA Information About Lead
- National Lead Information Center: 1-800-424-LEAD
- EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791
A service line provides water from the water main in the street to the property. The water main is installed down the street and the public (utility-owned) service line connects from the water main to the property line.
Design will be conducted from July of 2022 to February 2024. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2024 to September 2024. We anticipate water line construction will be completed by the end of 2024, however due to this winter completion some restoration (seeding and grading) and pavement could extend into the spring of 2025.
For homes with LSLs, the service line typically contributes the greatest percentage of lead to the tap. LSLs are the final link in the water infrastructure network that delivers water to your home, can contribute unpredictable and variable sources of exposure.
In June the Licking County Water and Wastewater Department contracted with GPD Group to do a preliminary design for water line replacement and a Lead Service Line identification and replacement projects in the Harbor Hills Community. This project is being paid for by Licking County Water and Wastewater through the American Rescue Plan funds at no cost to residents.
There are numerous health effects caused by lead exposure, including irreversible interference to brain and nervous system development. There is no safe amount of lead exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “People with prolonged exposure to lead may also be at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and reduced fertility.” While lead is harmful to all ages, children under 6 and women who are pregnant are at a higher risk.
Please complete a self-investigation and submit a form online or schedule an inspection of your water service.
No, everything should be similar to what you saw prior to the project. Due to the age of the main lines in the area and estimated build-up on the interior of these pipes it is anticipated you could see some increased flow and water pressure following completion.
Yes, removing the lead service line (LSL) reduces the highest risk for lead in drinking water. It is possible that other risks will remain in your house/building, including internal plumbing sources of lead. These items include, but are not limited to: leaded solder pipes, galvanized plumbing, leaded brass plumbing fixtures, and older faucets. You may want to hire a licensed plumber to replace these items.
In Harbor Hills, service lines to homes on private property are owned by the customer.
The water main lies underneath the street and the “public side” connection runs from the water main to the property line. LCWWD owns and is responsible for this section of the connection.
- A LCWWD contractor will need to enter your property (front or back yard) to replace the lead service line with a replacement pipe from the curb stop at the property line up to and possibly including the meter setting (either inside or outside of the home). Complete access to the water service line needs to be available where it enters the home/building, including the meter setting. Providing access will be the responsibility of the property owner.
- Generally, the replacement of the lead service line may be done by excavating at the curb stop, pulling, boring or trenching a new replacement pipe underground through or near the route of the existing service line, installing a new meter setting including inlet and outlet valves, and reconnecting the new meter setting to the home building’s internal plumbing. Please note, the meter removal within the house could possibly be completed by Licking County staff or separate contract after completion of the construction of this project. Final determination of the construction scope won’t be determined until detailed design.
- If an open trench method is needed for installation, the excavation will be approximately two feet wide from the curb stop at the property line to approximately the foundation wall.
- LCWWD contractors will restore the exterior work site as follows:
- Restoration is limited to the excavated and disturbed areas.
- Impacted lawn areas will be backfilled to include no less than 12” of topsoil at lawn excavations. Grass seed and straw will be placed during the growing season. Watering the grass seed is the responsibility of the property owner.
- Impacted paved surfaces will be restored with asphalt/cold patch.
- All private walks, trees, shrubs, landscaping, or similar items are the responsibility of the property owner. If the removal of such items is required for installation, they will be relocated by the contractor. Upon completion of the work, the property owner will be responsible for replacing the removed items.
- Extraordinary physical or other obstacles that prevent lead service line replacement by standard methods may need to be removed by owner or in coordination with the project. In such cases the property owner will be notified when the obstacle is identified and our Team will work with the owner identify the optimum solution.
The same day after LCWWD’s contractor has completed installing the new service line or before the next water use, you should fully open the cold-water side only at every interior premise plumbing fixture and let the water run for 30 minutes to flush out the new service line. This should be done to remove any potential particles that may have come loose and become captured in the internal premise plumbing as a result of the replacement work. Hot water should not be used until the cold water has been run for 30 minutes.