How to Identify Your Water Service Line
IDENTIFY YOUR WATER SERVICE LINE
Not sure whether your home has a lead, galvanized, copper, or plastic water service line? The material can often be narrowed down by looking at the exposed pipe where the water service enters your home, checking its color, fittings, and whether a magnet sticks. However, visual inspection only shows the portion you can see, and the buried public and private sections may be made from different materials. Municipal records, service-line inventories, or professional verification are the best ways to confirm exactly what is serving your property.
What Material Is Your Service Line Made Of?
Lead
Typical Appearance:
Dull gray or silver
Common Clues:
Soft metal, non-magnetic, and may become shiny when lightly scratched.
Important:
Lead service lines may have a curved or bulb-shaped connection near the shutoff.
Galvanized Steel
Typical Appearance:
Gray or silver metal
Common Clues:
Usually magnetic and often has threaded fittings.
Important:
Older galvanized service lines may have been connected to lead piping in the past.
Copper
Typical Appearance:
Copper, brown, orange, or greenish with age
Common Clues:
Non-magnetic and usually has soldered or compression connections.
Important:
Copper is commonly used as a replacement material for older lead services.
Plastic
Typical Appearance:
Blue, black, white, or another smooth plastic color
Common Clues:
Non-metallic, lightweight, and not attracted to a magnet.
Important:
Plastic service-line materials vary by municipality and installation age.