CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM Lead Service Line Inventory
Central Alabama Water System serves approximately 585,000 people across the region. The utility draws water from surface sources.
What is a lead service line?
A lead service line is the pipe that connects your home's water meter (usually at the street) to your house. If installed before the 1980s, there's a meaningful chance it contains lead. When water sits in these pipes overnight or for several hours, lead can leach into your drinking water—even in small amounts that you can't see, taste, or smell.
Where does Central Alabama Water System stand on lead?
The utility has not yet completed a full inventory of lead service lines in its system. This means we don't yet know how many lead pipes exist in homes and businesses it serves, or where they're located.
Without a completed inventory, you won't find a map or list showing whether your property has a lead service line. That's the current reality for many large utilities, even after federal rules began requiring inventories in 2021.
What should you do now?
Call your water utility directly. Ask:
- Whether they've started their lead service line inventory
- Whether your address has been surveyed
- If they have any records about your service line material
- What free or low-cost options exist to test your water or have your line assessed
Some utilities offer free lead testing kits to residents. Others maintain older installation records that can indicate whether your line is at risk.
If your home was built before 1980 and you don't know your service line material, the safer assumption is that it might contain lead—which means taking precautions makes sense even before you have proof.
Testing your water
You can request a free or low-cost lead test through your water utility. If results come back above 15 parts per billion (ppb)—the EPA's action level—contact your utility immediately and consider interim steps like flushing pipes or using a pitcher filter certified for lead removal.
For questions about health effects or whether lead exposure is a concern for your family, consult your pediatrician or the CDC.
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Next steps for residents
- Contact Central Alabama Water System to ask about their lead service line inventory status and whether your address has been surveyed
- Request a free water lead test kit if available through your utility
- If your home was built pre-1980, ask your utility for any historical records about your service line
- Have your water tested if you have young children, are pregnant, or live in an older home
Key figures
| Total inventoried lines | 0 |
|---|---|
| BIL/IIJA funding received | — |
| Replacement plan status | Not reported |
| Utility's LCRR inventory | Not provided |
Frequently asked
Does Central Alabama Water System have lead in the water?
The utility hasn't completed a full inventory of lead service lines yet, so we don't know the extent of lead pipes in the system. Contact the utility directly to ask about their timeline and whether your property has been surveyed.
How do I know if my house has a lead service line?
Call Central Alabama Water System and ask if they have records for your address. If your home was built before 1980, there's a higher risk. You can also request a free water test to check for lead contamination.
Is lead in water dangerous for kids?
Lead exposure can affect child development. Talk to your pediatrician about testing and prevention. The CDC also has resources on lead and children's health.
What can I do right now to reduce lead exposure?
Run cold water for 30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking, use a pitcher filter certified for lead removal, and request a free water test from your utility to know your actual lead levels.