Tampa Republic

The Tampa Water Department has made its service line inventory available online, providing residents and businesses with information about the infrastructure that delivers drinking water to their properties. This initiative is part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement, which mandates utilities nationwide to make such inventories accessible to the public. The inventory can be accessed at tampa.gov/KnowYourPipes.

A service line connects properties to the city's water mains, ensuring clean drinking water reaches customers' taps. The inventory allows users to determine the material composition of their service lines or take steps to identify it. Additionally, those needing identification or replacement of their service lines will receive notification from the department.

This effort is part of a broader federal initiative aimed at removing lead service lines across the United States. The Tampa Water Department assures customers that lead has never been used as a standard material for its service lines and testing data shows no lead in treated drinking water from its plant.

To complete the inventory, the department employs various techniques, including historical data analysis and staff inspections during repairs. Customers with unidentified service line materials will receive annual updates by mail until identification is complete. Residents can also identify their customer-owned portion of the service line by submitting an online form available at tampa.gov/KnowYourPipes.

While federal regulations focus on drinking water as a potential lead source, other sources include lead-based paint, dust, soil, cosmetics, toys, and jewelry. Further information on these sources and health impacts is available online.

In addition to making the inventory public, the department provides tools to reduce lead exposure risk and improve water quality through educational materials like door hangers and flyers distributed in upcoming months. For further inquiries about the inventory or related information, customers are encouraged to call (813) 272-8300.