Service Line Inventory

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Cary has completed its water service line inventory, a requirement of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR). The water service line connects the utility owned water main to your home or building. Cary owns and maintains the portion of service line from the main to the water meter, while you own and maintain the portion from the meter to your home, as well as your interior plumbing. The LCRR requires that the pipe materials be identified on both the Cary side and the private side of all water service lines in the water system. Cary has roughly 75,000 water service connections and most of these connections were installed after the federal lead ban that took effect in the late 80s. After accounting for the service lines installed after the lead ban and service lines replaced during capital water projects, there were about 6,800 water service connections that had one or both segments with an unknown material type. Cary turned to its citizens for help in completing the service line inventory where the service line materials were unknown. Cary received a great response from citizens assisting in the inventory by either identifying their privately owned pipe materials or requesting a complimentary inspection. Cary also worked with utility locators to physically verify the materials on Cary’s side of the water meter. Finally, Cary input all the data into a statistical analysis model to complete the inventory. The key findings of the water service line inventory are that:

No lead has ever been recorded or discovered during operation of Cary’s water distribution system.
Cary can conclude, with 95% confidence, that there are no lead services existing in our water system.

You can search the interactive map below to determine the pipe materials in the water service at your property.

Even with no lead service lines in Cary or the expanded service area of Morrisville, RTP South, and the RDU Airport we are committed to providing high quality drinking water that complies with all federal and state regulations, including the new Lead and Copper rule.

Request a Service Line Inspection

If you believe the service line inventory is incorrect for your home or property, the easiest way to verify your service line material is to request a complimentary inspection. You can use the online 311 service request form to request an inspection. You can also call 311, or if you are a water customer outside of Cary you can call (919)469-4000. Cary Utilities staff will then contact you to schedule a time for Cary's contracted plumber to visit your property and inspect your service line.

How to Verify Your Service Line Material

If you are feeling adventurous, you can verify your service line material yourself by completing a simple visual inspection, a scratch test and a magnet test and self-reporting your findings back to Cary. Watch our helpful video to learn more about verifying your own service line material.

To get started you will need to gather a key or coin, a strong magnet, and your smart phone.

Find where your service line enters your home. This is typically in a crawl space or utility closet and there is often a shutoff valve in this location.
Visually inspect your pipe. Is it plastic or is it metallic?
- Plastic pipe may be white, black, or blue in color. If it is plastic, take a photo of your pipe. Your inspection is complete, and you can report your inspection to Cary.
- If it is metallic, the next step is to perform a scratch test.
To perform a scratch test, use your key/coin to scratch the surface of the pipe. What color do you observe in the area where you scratched the pipe?
- If you see a brown or gold color like the color of a penny, then your pipe is copper or brass. Take a photo of your pipe and report your inspection to Cary.
- If you see a silver color or no visible scratch, then the next step is to perform a magnet test.
To perform the magnet test, hold a strong magnet against the side of the pipe and observe whether the magnet sticks to the pipe.
- If the magnet sticks to your pipe, then your pipe is galvanized steel. Take a picture of your pipe and report your inspection to Cary.
- If the magnet does not stick to your pipe, then it is likely lead. Take a picture of your pipe and report your inspection to Cary.

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Report Your Findings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a water service line?

A water service line is the pipe connecting the utility owned water main to your home or building. Typically, the utility owns and maintains the portion of the service line from the water main up to and including the water meter. The property owner owns and maintains the portion of the service line behind the water meter.

Service Line

How do I find the water service line on my property?

You can find your water service line by finding the water meter. The water meter measures the amount of water going into your home and is typically located inside a box in your yard near the street. Your water service line runs from the water meter to your home.

I did a materials verification test, but I cannot tell what kind of service line I have. What should I do?

If you cannot tell what type of service line you have, please call 311 or (919)469-4090 if you are outside the town. Cary staff will come to perform an inspection and verify your service line materials.

What do I do if I suspect I have a lead service line?

If you have lead or even think you might, please give us a call. We can come out to perform some additional tests, including taking a water sample. You can also take the following interrim steps until your service line materials can be verified:

If your water has gone unused for more than 6 hours, run the tap water for several minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. This will flush the stagnant water that was in contact with your service line.
Use cold running water for drinking cooking and preparing baby formula. Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. If you need hot water, draw cold water and then heat it. It is still safe to shower, wash dishes, and do laundry with hot water from the tap.
Use a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified home water treatment device or filter. The device must be both NSF 42 and NSF 53-certified to remove lead. Visit the NSF website for more information on appropriate water filters.
Remove and clean faucet aerators and screens every 3 months.