There can be lead in water service lines, plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, fittings, etc.), and indoor copper plumbing pipes with lead solder. Lead can enter drinking water from plumbing inside your building or the water service line between the street and building. When water sits in the service line or plumbing for hours without use, like overnight, lead may release into the water.

Seminole County and their consultant have been working together to develop an initial inventory of all water service lines connected to the County's water system.

Starting in the summer of 2024, the County will start performing field verifications of selected service lines. Seminole County's contractor will dig two small test holes on each side of the water meter to confirm the water service line materials during the field verification. It takes about 30 minutes to dig and look at the pipe. Seminole County's contractor will close the hole and restore the area to its original appearance.

Seminole County and their consultant selected representative locations for the field verifications using EPA guidelines, which are based on the year they were constructed and the general location with the County. The selected locations represent all the County's water system, about 2,300 properties total. We will conduct more field verifications as needed, including using different methods, based on regulatory guidance and requirements.

No, there is no safe level of lead exposure. Any amount of lead exposure has risks.

Health experts, including scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, agree that too much lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have an increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

If Seminole County finds a lead or galvanized pipe requiring replacement, the County will notify the homeowner of the next steps.

Water service lines are small pipes that carry water from water mains (large pipes located in the streets) into homes, where they connect to the indoor plumbing. Most water service lines in Florida are plastic, but a small number could be galvanized steel, copper, brass, cast iron, lead, or ductile iron.

• Run cold water before using. The longer the water stays in the plumbing, the more lead it may have. If the water in the faucet has been sitting for more than 6 hours, run water for 3 to 5 minutes before using it. Showering and flushing the toilet also help clear out your water line.
• Replace your home's internal plumbing that may have lead. Potential lead sources include lead pipes, lead-based solder, and brass fixtures and valves (including faucets).
• Use cold water for cooking, drinking, and making baby formula. Lead dissolves into hot water more easily than cold water. If you need hot water, draw cold water and then heat it. It is safe to shower, wash dishes, and do laundry with hot water from the tap. Lead does not affect humans through the skin. Boiling water does NOT reduce lead.
• Remove and clean faucet strainers. Every 3 months, remove and clean strainers at the tip of faucets to remove build up.
  1. Remove the faucet strainers from all taps
  2. Rinse the faucet strainers
  3. Run the water without strainers for 3 to 5 minutes
  4. Replace faucet strainers
• Test your child's blood for lead. Your local doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead. To learn more, visit the Florida Department of Health's website.
• Use filters. Use a pitcher filter approved to reduce lead (NSF 53-certified). Visit EPA's water filter webpage to learn more about water filters.
• Replace your service line. In the unlikely event that you have a lead water service line, Seminole County will work with you to create a replacement plan and expedite the permitting process. Replacement is voluntary; no one will be forced to replace their line.

Seminole County is proactively creating an initial service line material inventory, which will be posted to the County website by October 16, 2024. At that time, you will be able to look up your service line material.

Within 30 days of October 16, 2024, Seminole County will also be sending out letters to customers whose service line was determined to be (1) lead, (2) galvanized requiring replacement, or (3) unknown. The County will not send out a notification letter if a customer's service line does not fall into one of these three categories.

• Visit the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule website.
• Visit Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Lead and Copper Rule website.

Seminole County is responsible for the service line from the water main in the street to the property boundary. The property owner is responsible for the service line from the property boundary to where the service line enters the home or building.

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency passed the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The rule requires all water suppliers, including Seminole County, to prepare a service line inventory of both County- and customer-owned materials.

Seminole County has developed and maintained an inventory of the County-owned water mains and service lines over the years. As of June 2024, the County has not found any lead. With the new LCRR, the EPA requires all water systems providers to include water service line materials for the customer-owned portion.

Seminole County does not expect to find lead service lines in our system. However, older homes built before Florida banned lead in January 1989 may potentially have lead service lines.

Lead used to be common in water service lines and home plumbing. Older homes and buildings, especially those built before January 1989, may still have service lines and internal plumbing and fixtures with lead. The U.S. EPA allowed "lead free" plumbing fixtures to have up to 8% lead until 2014. A licensed plumber can help figure out if you have lead in your indoor plumbing.