Guidance After Service Line Replacement

Safeguarding public health is critical to our mission. That’s why we’re providing these instructions to protect you from potential lead exposure after a lead service line has been replaced. The instructions below are specific to LEAD service line replacement.

Follow these instructions if you need to flush after experiencing a regular water outage due to a plumbing issue, line break or weather-related outage. 

Why should I flush after service lead service line replacement?

When lead service lines are removed from the ground, they can be jostled, causing small lead particles to dislodge and leach into the water that runs into your home or business. That's why you should flush your interior plumbing lines AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after a lead service line is replaced and water service is restored. There are specific steps you should take that are different than the steps you'd need to take after a regular water service outage.

CAUTION: DO NOT drink tap water, open hot water faucets, use your ice maker or any filtered water dispenser until AFTER flushing is complete.

I. PREPARE TO FLUSH

  • Remove aerator screens from every faucet or fixture. Leave each aerator near the faucet it came from so it is not lost.
  • Disconnect any bypass or faucet filters, or on-premise filtration or water-softening systems.
  • Find the faucet is closest to where the service line enters the home or business. This is usually an outdoor spigot on the front side of the building, or could be a faucet in a basement, the lowest point of a basement or indoors near a utility area. 

II. SET YOUR CLOCK

  • Start with the outdoor spigot or faucet closest to where the service line enters the building and open this faucet at FULL FLOW - COLD WATER ONLY. Let it run for 30 minutes minimum.
  • Beginning from the lowest/closest point to the service line, open every faucet in the home, working toward the farthest or highest point in the home. Don't forget to open shower and bath tub faucets. Once all faucets are open, let the water run for at least 30 minutes.
    • Note: If a tub includes a showerhead, flush using the tub faucet to keep small particles from clogging the showerhead. 
    • If a showerhead cannot be removed but is the only way to flush a line, DO NOT use the shower for flushing.

III. FINISH UP

  • Once all faucets have run for at least 30 minutes, turn off the faucets one-by-one, starting with the first faucet opened. Then shut off each faucet in the same order used to open them.
  • Clean the aerators with soapy water. How to clean your aerators:
    • Unscrew each aerator from the end of your faucet. Many can be removed by hand, but some may require a wrench or spanner. For aerators hidden inside a faucet, use an aerator key instead. 
    • Soak aerators in white vinegar for at least 5 minutes to break apart residue. Scrub each earator with a toothbrush to clean them. 
    • Clean your faucet aerator every six months. If the residue doesn't come off or if the aerator is damaged, replace it. 

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE:

What to expect after a lead service line replacement

Anytime a service line or water main has been replaced, it’s common for your water to be discolored due to mineral and treatment residuals that may have broken off from inside service and plumbing lines. Discoloration does not indicate the presence of lead, but after lead service line replacement, the likelihood of lead leaching into the water is high, which is why flushing your lines is critical.

Using a water filter after service line replacement

After a lead service line has been replaced on your property, it is advised you only drink water that has been filtered using a filtered water pitcher. While the OKC Utilities Department takes every precaution
to reduce the potential for lead leaching from service lines during our treatment process, the risk of lead transfer is highest after a service line has been replaced.

EPA Guidelines

Drinking Water Filtration: The EPA recommends that you filter your drinking water for six months following the replacement of a lead water service line. To help, the OKC Utilities Department will provide you with a filtration water pitcher and a six-month supply of replacement filters. Follow all manufacturer guidelines prior to use.

 

Testing and Monitoring

Three months after your line replacement, laboratory staff with the Oklahoma City Utilities Water Quality Division will contact you so they can pull water samples from your kitchen faucet and test the water for the presence of lead. The EPA has deemed that NO AMOUNT of lead in drinking water is safe.

For more information about lead in drinking water, visit the EPA's website at www.epa.gov/lead or call the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-LEAD.

 

 

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