Ongoing work is part of a vital program to replace lead and galvanized service lines throughout the state
Aqua Pennsylvania is currently conducting customer-owned service line inventory studies in Shenandoah Borough, Schuylkill County as part of its statewide initiative to replace lead and galvanized water service lines. The inventory study, which includes nearly 450 test holes, began in September and is expected to continue throughout the year.
Inventory studies allow Aqua Pennsylvania to identify service lines made of lead or galvanized material so they can be replaced. Service lines are divided into two sections: a utility-owned portion and a customer-owned portion. Typically, the utility-owned section extends from the water main in the street to the curb stop located at the curb or property line. The customer-owned section extends from that curb stop into the customer’s home or building.
Once a service line is identified as being made of lead or galvanized material, Aqua works directly with the customer to replace the customer-owned portion. Through Aqua Pennsylvania’s Customer Lead Service Line Replacement Program, this work is completed at no direct cost to the customer. A warranty is also provided for the completed replacement. These replacement projects provide long-term improvements for customers in dozens of municipalities throughout Pennsylvania.
Since starting our work on customer-owned service lines in 2024, Aqua Pennsylvania completed more than 3,200 replacements across the Commonwealth. That number will continue to grow as Aqua advances its commitment to provide safe, reliable water for neighborhoods throughout the service area.
“This initiative reflects Aqua’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the quality of our customers’ drinking water and reducing exposure to contaminants such as lead,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “We’ve achieved significant progress in recent years, thanks in large part to the partnership and cooperation of our customers and community leaders. By working side by side, we are moving closer to our shared goal of eliminating lead service lines.”
The service line material inventory and replacements are required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC).
Learn more about Aqua Pennsylvania’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program.