Lead Service Line Inventory

Lead Service Line Inventory

US EPA, working through the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), has required the Village of Murray to prepare an inventory of all water user service lines connected to Murray’s water system. That inventory has been prepared and submitted to NDEE.

 The Village of Murray was also required to send a notice of possible lead contamination to every water user whose service line is lead, galvanized steel, or “unknown”.  Water users with modern copper service lines are included in the service, but no notice was sent to them.

Water users are NOT required to do anything with this information. Annual notices must be sent to all water users who have lead, galvanized steel, or “unknown” service lines.

According to the Murray Municipal Code 51.07, the service line from the curb stop to the house is the responsibility of the property owner.

For questions regarding what type of service line is in the home, residents may request assistance by calling the Murray Clerk’s Office at 402-235-2119 or by emailing murrayclerk@murrayvillage.com.

Lead Service Line Inventory Notices Q & A

Why did I receive a letter regarding my service line?

The EPA mandated that all public water systems complete an inventory of all lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines, and report to each property if their service line met one of these. All the safety information included in the letter was also mandated by EPA and the State of Nebraska.

What do I need to do if my service line is lead or galvanized?

At this time there are no requirements to change the service line. You may, at your own expense, remove and replace the service line. If you do, please notify the Clerk’s Office so we can update our records.

Who is responsible for paying for the replacement of the service line if needed?

Per city code, the service line from the curb stop to the house is the property owner's responsibility. Currently, no federal, state, or local funds are available to help replace the service line. The Village is monitoring federal and state legislation to ensure that if funds do become available, residents and the Village of Murray will be able to take advantage of available funding.

What if I was notified that my service line type was “unknown”?

You may either self-report the service line type to the Clerk’s Office or call to schedule a village employee to come to your property and assist you with inspecting the service line. Please call (402) 235-2119 to report or schedule, allow 24-48 hours for village staff to be available to visit your property for a free inspection.

If you have questions on how you can determine the type of line in your home, please reach out to the Clerk’s Office for guidance. According to the EPA, it is recommended that you start with a magnet or scratch test.

• If the pipe can be scratched with a coin, appears to be silver, and the magnet does not stick, the pipe is most likely lead.
• If the magnet does stick and is a dull grey when scratched, then the pipe is galvanized steel.
• If the pipe is the color of a penny and the magnet does not stick, it is most likely copper.
• If the magnet does not stick, is off-white, yellow, or grey, and is joined with a clamp, screw, or glue, then this portion of pipe is plastic or a form of PVC.

What happens if my “unknown” service line is found to not be lead or galvanized?

Your service line type is recorded in our inventory and you will not need to take further action.

Why is this happening?

The EPA dictated that a village-wide inventory be submitted to the State by October 15, 2024. EPA also required that notices be mailed out by November 15, 2024.