Frequently Asked Questions

The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Program was established in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which were issued in 2021. One of the revised rule's main objectives is to create an inventory of the service lines in the City of Homestead water distribution system and provide our customers with clear communications and public education materials. 

No. The program does not directly impact the cost of water. 

More information can be found on our program webpage at www.homesteadfl.gov/lcrr.  

Lead is rarely found as a natural contaminant in drinking water and generally originates from lead-based plumbing materials. Lead can enter drinking water supplies when plumbing materials containing lead corrode over time. These materials include lead pipes, lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, and brass and chrome-plated brass faucets. Lead service lines are typically the most significant source of lead in drinking water. In the City of Homestead, these materials are more likely to be found in homes built before 1978, as the City prohibited lead in the construction of service lines in 1977.

Not necessarily. All lead service lines have the potential to leach, or leak, lead into drinking water, but our treatment facility carefully monitors the water chemistry in our distribution system to help reduce the potential of corrosion. Lead can occur in drinking water through leaching from lead-containing pipe, faucets, and solder sometimes found in the plumbing of older construction.   

First, do not panic. If you determine you have a lead service line, notify the City. Although lead service lines have the potential to leach lead into drinking water, the water chemistry in the City of Homestead distribution system is carefully managed to help prevent this from happening. This means that lead may not necessarily be in the drinking water even if the service line is made from lead. 

Replacement is only necessary if one of the following conditions is met:

• The service line was constructed with lead
• The service line is galvanized and downstream of a service line with unknown material – also known as galvanized requiring replacement (GRR)
• If the service line is galvanized and is either currently, or was previously, downstream of a lead service line, or GRR

Galvanized pipes are iron pipes coated in protective zinc to prevent corrosion and rust and used as an alternative to lead pipe for service lines. Galvanized pipes can capture lead released from upstream lead service lines, requiring their replacement and resulting in their categorization as galvanized requiring replacement, or GRR.  

No. Only galvanized service lines that are currently or were potentially previously downstream of a lead service line will need to be replaced. 

Refer to the “Important Steps You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water” information on the EPA website for detailed guidance.

We are assessing the potential cost implications of complying with LCRR and the potential contractors and plumbers needed for replacements. The results of this assessment will be included in a service line replacement plan that will be shared with our customers upon completion.

Replacement of a water service line will require a temporary interruption of water service to remove the existing service line and install and connect the new service line. This interruption will be scheduled in advance and minimized as much as possible, with a total downtime of no more than eight hours.

Water line replacements typically take one to four hours to complete. Materials used to replace the service line will be approved by the City and meet EPA guidelines. 

Water line replacements often do result in property disturbance, but the disturbance is kept to a minimum. The contractor and/or plumber will be required to restore the property back to pre-construction condition as part of the service line replacement. 

The City of Homestead will assist in flushing the line following replacement and can provide follow-up sampling to ensure there is no longer any residual lead in the service line to your home.