How Do I Know If My House Has a Lead Service Line?

Please Follow These Steps and Submit Your Results to the City of Darien

Materials Needed for Testing:  Strong Magnet, a Coin and a Flathead Screwdriver

1. Find the water service line entering the building. If you have a basement, the water service line will typically enter the building through the basement floor or the basement side wall. If you do not have a basement, the service line should enter the building through the floor on the main level. You will see a shut-off valve and water meter installed on this pipe. The testing location on the pipe will be between the entry point into the building and the shut-off valve, as shown in Figure 1.
2. Scratch Test: Scratch the outer surface of the pipe with a coin or flathead screwdriver. Be very careful not to puncture a hole in the pipe and do not use sharp objects for this test.
3. Magnet Test: Place a magnet on the pipe to check if it sticks to the pipe.
4. Tapping Test: Tap the pipe with a coin and listen to the sound it makes.
5. Compare the results of your test with the  guidelines shown below. Submit your results to the Questionaire

Lead Your Service Line is Lead if: Scratch Test: The scratched area is shiny and silver. Magnet Test: The magnet does not stick. Tapping Test: You hear a dull noise while tapping the coin.

Copper Your Service Line is Copper if: Scratch Test: The scratched area is copper in color like a penny. Magnet Test: The magnet does not stick. Tapping Test: You hear a metallic ringing noise while tapping the coin.

Galvanized Steel Your Service Line is Galvanized Steel if: Scratch Test: The scratched area remains dull and gray. Magnet Test: The magnet sticks. Tapping Test: You hear a metallic ringing noise while tapping the coin.