DPW to relaunch water service line inventory campaign

Not satisfied with the initial response to their water service line inventory campaign launched earlier this fall, the Canton DPW and its Water Division are planning to again reach out to homeowners to reiterate the importance of checking their water pipes for the presence of lead.

Residential water service connections are typically located in the basement of homes. See below for details on self-inspections.

At the urging of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Drinking Water Program, DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta said the town has set a long-term goal of inspecting the water service line in every home and business in Canton and eliminating any lead pipes that are found.

“The goal is to have no lead connected to the system,” said Trotta. “I do not expect any, but we have to prove it.”

While lead is a naturally occurring element and can be found throughout the environment, it is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health when ingested, especially for children, even at low exposure levels. Much of the exposure, according to the EPA, comes from human activities such as the past use of leaded gasoline and lead-based paint in homes. It can also be released into the air from industrial sources and can settle in the soil, potentially impacting groundwater.

While the use of lead pipes and solder in new construction has been banned at the federal level since the mid-1980s, older service lines and homes built prior to that period could still possibly contain lead in the pipes, fittings and fixtures, either as the primary material or in the form of solder.

Trotta said there are between 7,000 and 8,000 water service connections in the town of Canton, including 4,300 residential connections, and as of two weeks ago, 3,300 homes (77 percent) had yet to be inspected.

In September, the DPW distributed hundreds of door hangers urging residents to either schedule a free, in-home inspection of their water service connection (typically located in the basement), or conduct their own inspection and self-report the results. Information was also posted on the town website and reported in the Canton Citizen, but the campaign resulted in only 60 residential inspections.

Trotta said the department’s aim is to have all inspections, both residential and commercial, completed by the end of 2027. If a connection is found to contain lead and it is on a public water main, then the town is responsible for replacing the connection and must do so by 2037. If the connection is on a private main, then the homeowner would be responsible for replacing the pipes, with cost estimates ranging from $12,000 to $18,000.

Based on the records the DPW has on file, which go back 80 or 90 years, Trotta said there have only been two homes that were found to have lead connections — one in the Ponkapoag School area and another at a house in Cobb’s Corner. Neither connection, however, was found to pose a threat to water quality.

Trotta said the next public information campaign could begin after the coming holiday season (Thanksgiving/Christmas). In the meantime, residents are welcome to conduct their own inspection, which takes approximately 10 minutes, and then report their findings to the town.

In short, the process involves locating the water service line and identifying the pipe that runs to the water meter. If that pipe is metal, then a homeowner will need a coin and a magnet to determine if it is lead-based. The coin is used to scratch the pipe, and the magnet is placed on the scratched area. If the scratched area looks like a new penny and the magnet does not stick, then it is likely copper. If it turns shiny silver but the magnet does stick, then it is likely steel. If the pipe scratches easily and the magnet does not stick, then it is likely lead.

Residents who conduct their own inspection will then need to report the results, including a photo, either through the online Canton Water Service Line Material Survey form or by emailing dpw@town.canton.ma.us.

For step-by-step instructions and more information, visit the Lead Service Line Inventory page at town.canton.ma.us/1019/Lead-Service-Line-Inventory.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=132651

Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 13 2025. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.