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Lead service lines in Herndon, VA

6 water utilities serve Herndon, with approximately 1,146,500 people served.

Last verified from EPA SDWIS + utility inventories: 2026-04-14
Known lead
0
Galvanized
0
Unknown
0
% unknown
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Lead Service Lines in Herndon, VA

What you need to know

The Herndon area is served by six water systems, with the Fairfax County Water Authority serving the vast majority of the region's 1.15 million residents. Unfortunately, the water systems serving Herndon have not yet publicly disclosed how many lead service lines connect homes to the water mains.

Lead service lines are pipes made of lead that run underground from the water main to your house. They were commonly installed before the 1980s. If your home was built before 1986, there's a meaningful chance your service line contains lead—though it's not guaranteed. Lead leaches into water most readily when the water is soft or acidic, or when pipes are new.

Why this matters

Lead in drinking water poses real health risks, especially for children and pregnant people. Even low levels can affect childhood development. The good news: you can reduce your exposure significantly through simple steps like flushing your pipes and using filters.

What Herndon utilities are doing

Fairfax County Water Authority (serving ~1.1 million people) and the Town of Herndon (serving ~24,600 people) have not yet made their lead service line inventories public. Virginia law requires water systems to develop and maintain these inventories, but disclosure timelines vary.

Several smaller water systems also serve parts of the area, including Green Meadows Compact Homes, Musket Ridge Golf Club, and others—most serving fewer than 100 people each.

Finding out about your own service line

Your water utility can tell you whether your service line is lead, galvanized, or copper. Call your water provider directly—Fairfax County Water Authority or the Town of Herndon—and ask. Have your address ready. Some utilities have already mapped their lines; others are still investigating.

If your utility doesn't have records, ask about the age of your home and the pipes visible near your meter or foundation.

Next steps for residents

  • Contact your water utility to ask about your service line material and whether they have an inventory available.
  • Get your water tested if you're concerned—a simple test costs $20–30 and tells you whether lead is actually in your water right now.
  • Use a certified filter (NSF/ANSI 53-certified) if you drink tap water and suspect lead exposure.
  • Flush your pipes before drinking or cooking: run cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes each morning, especially in homes built before 1986.

Utilities serving Herndon

Common questions

Does Herndon have lead in the water?

Herndon's water systems have not publicly reported how many lead service lines exist in the area. Lead may be present if your home has an old lead or galvanized service line, but the only way to know if lead is actually in your water is to test it.

How do I know if my house has a lead service line?

Call your water utility (Fairfax County Water Authority or Town of Herndon) and ask them to check your address. You can also look at the visible pipe near your water meter or foundation—lead is soft, dark gray, and can be scratched with a coin.

Is lead service line water safe to drink?

Not always. Lead leaches into water under certain conditions (soft or acidic water, new pipes). A water test will tell you whether lead is in your tap water. If it is, filters and flushing can reduce exposure.

What should I do if my service line is lead?

Start by testing your water. If lead is present, use a certified filter and flush pipes before drinking. Long-term, consider replacing your service line—your utility or county health department may have rebate programs.