Lead Service Line Inventory

As part of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) published December 16, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that all community water systems (CWS) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems develop an inventory of all service line connections, both system-owned and customer-owned. The inventory must identify the potential presence of lead within each service line connection. The initial inventory must be completed and submitted to the North Carolina Public Water Supply Section by October 16, 2024.

If residents are seeking information on state-certified labs that can process residential samples for potential lead contamination, visit NCSLPH - Lab Certification.

Lead Service Line Inventory Template

Water systems in North Carolina are required to use the appropriate template provided by the Public Water Supply Section. Please contact the Public Water Supply Section's Lead and Copper compliance team at pwss.lcr@deq.nc.gov if you need assistance in accessing your template.

Save a copy of the inventory template to your hard drive or network drive using the following naming convention: Water System ID Number_LSLI_MMDDYYYY (e.g, NC0011222_LSLI_10162024). The template includes five tabs that will need to be completed for each water system, as well as instructions for filling out each tab. DO NOT change the name of any tabs on the inventory template. Additional instructions and information for completing your template are provided in the Inventory Resources and Guidance section below.

The template files above have been locked to prevent unintentional formatting changes to the templates. If you need additional functionality in your spreadsheet, you may download an unlocked version of the template here. Please note: any changes to the headings, tab names, and column locations may cause your inventory to be rejected by the State.

Inventory Submission

Service Line Inventory Submission Portal

Instructions for how to submit your system's service line inventory through the Service Line Inventory Submission Portal application are available by selecting the "Help" button at the top right of the Service Line Inventory Submission Portal application landing page.

Service Line Material Notice Templates

Lead Service Lines [Word] [PDF]
Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR) Service Lines [Word] [PDF]
Service Lines of Unknown Material [Word] [PDF]

Service line material notice templates are provided above for services lines identified as, lead, galvanized requiring replacement (GRR), or unknown within your system's Service Line Inventory. These notices are required to be delivered to all customers served by service lines classified in these three categories by November 15, 2024. Once notices have been delivered to customers, the "Service Line Material Notice Certification" portion of the template should be completed, and a copy of the certified notice submitted through the "SLI" module within our web-based ECERT application.

Lead Action Level Exceedance Tier 1 Public Notice Template

Lead Action Level Exceedance Tier 1 Public Notice Template [Word] [PDF]

Beginning October 16, 2024, a Tier 1 public notification will be required if your water system's 90th percentile lead level exceeds the lead action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb). This notice will be required to be distributed within 24 hours of learning of the lead action level exceedance and delivered to customers by broadcast media (radio/television), posting in conspicuous locations throughout the service area, and/or hand delivery to persons served by the system.

Once notices have been delivered to customers, a copy of the certified notice should be submitted via email to pwss.lcr@deq.nc.gov. A new module is currently under development within our web-based ECERT application for submission of these lead action level exceedance public notices, which will be available soon.

Inventory Resources and Guidance

Service Line Inventory Statistical Methods and Predictive Modeling Guidance - Printable PDF copy of the Service Line Inventory Statistical Methods and Predictive Modeling Guidance for the State of North Carolina.
Guidance for Classifying Services Lines with Different Ownership Types - Printable PDF copy of guidance for classifying service lines that have different ownership types.
Lead Service Line Inventory Instructions - Printable PDF copy of lead service line inventory instructions for the required North Carolina template.
Initial Lead Service Line Inventory Communication Letter - General PDF copy of North Carolina's initial communication letter, that was mailed out to community and non-transient non-community water systems on December 20, 2022.
U.S. EPA's Guidance for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory - Printable PDF copy of this U.S. EPA guidance document.
- Summary of EPA Guidance - Printable PDF copy of the Public Water Supply Section's summary of the EPA's Guidance for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory
NC Construction Materials Report - Link to webpage where data from North Carolina's Construction Material Report application can be downloaded.
- Instructions for Downloading Data - Printable PDF copy of instructions for how to download data from North Carolina's Construction Material Report application.
Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) - Link to the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements within the Federal Register.
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) - Link to the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions within the Code of Federal Regulations.
Lead Service Line Replacement Funding - Solicitations for funding through the Division of Water Infrastructure are currently being accepted.
Service Line Inventory and Proposed LCRI Presentation - Printable PDF copy of presentation given at the North Carolina Rural Water Association (NCRWA) Conference on May 15, 2024.
Lead Service Line Inventory Overview Presentation - Printable PDF copy of presentation given at the North Carolina Rural Water Association (NCRWA) Conference on May 17, 2023.

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