Keeping Lead Out of Raleigh's Drinking Water

Raleigh is a vibrant, growing community, and keeping our drinking water safe and clean is our top priority. While the water leaving our treatment plants is lead-free, we are partnering with you to ensure it stays that way as it travels through the pipes to your tap.

Helpful Information

Program Details

In coordination with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule, Raleigh Water has launched a multi-year initiative to identify and inventory every service line in our system. Because much of Raleigh’s growth happened after the 1986 lead ban, many of our neighborhoods already have copper, PVC or PEX service lines. However, we are committed to being thorough. This project is about transparency and health—helping you identify your "pipe type," educating our community on reducing risks, and working together to replace older materials. We’re in this together to keep Raleigh’s water world-class for generations to come.

This project looks at the section of the water line running from the meter into your home as well as your indoor plumbing. You might be wondering why we’re reaching out now. 

In the world of plumbing, different materials have been used over the decades. These include copper, plastic, and galvanized steel. Galvanized pipes are steel pipes coated in a protective layer of zinc, and they have been a reliable standard in homes for a long time. 

Why is my line listed as "Unknown"?

Raleigh Water doesn't typically track the specific materials used on private property. Even for newer builds, building inspections confirm that the materials used are safe and meet code, but they don't always record the exact type. For example, the records might not specify if the pipe is copper or galvanized.

Because our records don't specify the exact material for your address, we’re required to list it as "Unknown" and send this notification. It’s simply our way of staying transparent while we work to complete the picture of our City's infrastructure.

Please note, if your home, including the service line, was constructed after 1986, then your service line is not galvanized or lead. For your peace of mind, our records indicate that no lead services have been found in our system, and very few galvanized services are present. Therefore, it's unlikely that your service line is galvanized.