The Jersey Shore Area Joint Water Authority provides drinking water to more than 7,000 people in Jersey Shore and the surrounding area. Our water treatment plants operate around the clock, 7 days a week, producing one million gallons of drinking water daily that meets state and federal safety standards.

The U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions requires the water authority to inventory the material of all water service lines by October 2024 to identify service lines that may be sources of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. The service line is the pipe that connects your home or building to the water main in the street. Service lines may be made of lead, copper, galvanized iron or steel, or plastic.

During 2023 and 2024, in addition to performing routine maintenance, water meter changes, and upgrades to our water treatment and distribution system, we will be taking steps to identify the types of service line materials used by each of our customers. The Authority has rarely encountered lead materials within its distribution system, and it is the Authority’s practice to remove any lead materials discovered on the Authority-side of the service line during routine work.

While the Authority is using its records and information collected during routine work (including water meter changeouts) and infrastructure upgrades, there are still many service lines of unknown material. We need your help to comply with all U.S. EPA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

We’re asking water customers to help identify their service line material or make an appointment with our office by calling (570) 398-1443 so we can verify the material of the customer-side portion of their water service line. If your water meter was replaced within the last two years, it is likely that the Authority already collected information on your service line material while completing the meter changeout. 

• Not sure when your water meter was replaced? Please call our office to confirm. 
• Still need to have your water meter replaced? Call us to schedule an appointment, and we can verify the material of your service line at the same time!

If the Authority verifies a lead or galvanized steel service line, you will receive follow-up instructions on how to mitigate your exposure to lead in drinking water and information on service line replacements. The Jersey Shore Water Authority is committed to identifying the material of all water service lines in accordance with all federal and state regulatory requirements. Don’t delay, verify today!

Outer Appearance: 
Dull gray; often curved; may have a bulbous section

Scratch Test (use key, screwdriver, or coin):
Shiny Silver

Magnet Test: 
Does not stick

Outer Appearance:
Dark gray or black; straight rigid pipe

Scratch Test (use key, screwdriver, or coin):
Hard to scratch,
remains gray

Magnet Test:
Magnet WILL stick

Outer Appearance:
Orange/red to brown; can have green corrosion spots

Scratch Test (use key, screwdriver, or coin):
Orange/red and shiny, like a copper penny

Magnet Test:
Does not stick

Outer Appearance:
Often white or blue; smooth plastic

Scratch Test (use key, screwdriver, or coin):
Same color when scratched. No ringing sound when tapped.

Magnet Test:
Does not stick

There is no safe level of exposure to lead. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from corrosion of materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Jersey Shore Area Joint Water Authority is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in customer plumbing components. Historically, the Authority’s water supply has met state and federal water quality standards and we continue to routinely monitor our drinking water quality.

Lead is not detected in drinking water when it leaves the treatment plant and there is no current concern about lead at large in our water system. Although the Authority treats water to prevent corrosion and leaching of lead into the water supply, identifying and removing service lines that may be a source of lead is an important way to protect public health. The Authority is required to conduct a thorough inventory to document the material of all water service lines by October 16, 2024 to comply with federal and state regulations.

Federal requirements for public water systems to use “lead-free materials” first became effective in Pennsylvania on January 6, 1991. If you live in a home built after January 6, 1991, it is unlikely that you have lead materials in your service line or home plumbing. It is still important that the Authority document the material of all service lines to comply with all federal and state requirements regardless of when your home was built.