EPA describes service-line inventories as the foundation for finding and replacing lead service lines. The inventory is usually a utility record of the pipe material from the water main toward the home, sometimes split into public-side and private-side sections.
Common inventory statuses
| Status | Plain meaning | Your next move |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | The utility believes at least part of the service line is lead. | Ask about full replacement timing and use certified point-of-use filtration now. |
| Galvanized requiring replacement | Galvanized pipe may have been downstream of lead and can hold lead scale. | Ask if the line is in the replacement pool and what proof is needed. |
| Unknown | The system does not yet have enough evidence to classify the line. | Treat as unresolved: inspect the pipe, ask for records, and consider a filter while verifying. |
| Non-lead | The utility has evidence the service line is not lead. | Still check older interior plumbing and fixtures if you are concerned about your tap. |
What the lookup may not show
Some inventories show both public and private side. Others show one status for the whole line, or mark one side unknown. A "non-lead" service line also does not prove every fixture, solder joint, or interior pipe in the home is lead-free.
How to verify
- Search your utility name plus "lead service line inventory" or "lead pipe lookup".
- Save your address result and note whether it lists public/private sides separately.
- Use the scratch and magnet pipe check on the incoming pipe if accessible.
- Ask the utility what evidence can change an unknown status.
- Use a certified lead-reduction filter for drinking and cooking water while the status is unresolved.