SLV Water District to Conduct Service Line Inspections in Felton, June 22–26
Residents in the Felton service area may notice Water District and contracted CDM Smith staff working near their water meters next week, as the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) begins a week-long effort to identify water service line materials throughout the community.
From June 22 through June 26, crews will be inspecting both District-owned and customer-owned portions of water service lines. This may require access to front yards, back yards, or the exterior of homes, depending on where each property’s water meter is located and how the home connects to the water system. Residents who are not comfortable with crews accessing their property can request instructions for conducting the inspection themselves.
Why This Work Is Happening
The inspections are part of a statewide effort to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which builds on the earlier Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Under these federal regulations, all public water systems were required to submit a complete inventory identifying the materials of every service line in their system — including the portion owned by the water system and the portion owned by the customer, up to the connection inside the home — regardless of who owns that section.
The original submission deadline was October 16, 2024. While that deadline has passed, water systems are required to resubmit inventories with verified material information, which is why this on-the-ground verification work is taking place now.
To support small water systems across California with this requirement, the EPA’s Region 9 office contracted with the engineering firm CDM Smith. CDM Smith is now working directly with local communities, including SLVWD, to verify service line materials and finalize accurate inventories. This assistance is provided at no cost to the District or its customers, as the program is funded by the EPA and the State of California.
The Goal: Confirming No Lead Service Lines
The purpose of this inspection work is to build a complete, verified inventory of service line materials throughout the District and confirm that no lead service lines exist anywhere in SLVWD’s water system.
SLVWD emphasized that this effort is a regulatory compliance and verification measure, not a response to a water quality concern. The District continues to meet and exceed all federal, state, and local drinking water quality standards. Residents with questions specifically about water quality are encouraged to contact the District directly rather than the inspection crews.
What Residents Should Know
A typical residential water connection includes several distinct sections: the water main, which runs under the street; the water meter, typically located near the property boundary; the water service line, which connects the meter to the home; and the building’s interior plumbing system. The portion of the service line from the main to the meter is generally system-owned, while the portion from the meter to the home is customer-owned. Crews will be examining both sections as part of this inventory effort.
Questions or Concerns?
Residents with questions about the upcoming site visits can contact SLVWD’s office at (831) 338-2153 or email customerservice@slvwd.com.
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