MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM Lead Service Line Inventory
MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM serves about 2.4 million people across Florida. Like all US water utilities, it is required by federal law to identify and report on lead service lines—the pipes that may connect your home to the public water main.
What you need to know
Your home's water may travel through a lead service line if it was built before the 1980s. Lead is a toxic metal that can leach into drinking water, especially in homes with older plumbing or where water is acidic or soft.
MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM draws its water from groundwater sources. The utility has not yet completed a full public inventory of lead service lines in its system, and that information is not yet available on this site.
Why this matters
The EPA and CDC agree: there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Even low levels can affect learning and development. Infants and young children are most vulnerable, as are pregnant people.
If you live in an older home (pre-1980s), your water line could contain lead, even if the utility hasn't confirmed it yet. The best way to know your own service line material is to contact your water utility directly or hire a licensed plumber to inspect it.
What MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM is doing
Federal law requires all utilities to create and maintain a lead service line inventory. MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM is working to build this inventory, though the data is not yet public. The utility may have received funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support lead pipe replacement and testing, but details on that funding are not yet available.
How to protect your family now
If you're concerned about lead in your tap water:
- Get your water tested. Contact MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM and ask about free or low-cost lead testing kits.
- Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water is more likely to contain dissolved lead.
- Let water run. If your tap hasn't been used for several hours, run cold water for 30 seconds to flush the line.
- Ask about your service line. Call your utility and ask whether your address is on a lead service line or if inspection records exist.
If a child in your home has elevated blood lead levels, talk to their pediatrician about next steps.
Next steps for residents
- Contact MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM directly at your utility's customer service line to ask about lead testing and your home's service line material.
- Request your water quality report. Utilities publish annual reports that include lead test results.
- Have your water tested if you have young children or are pregnant.
- Hire a plumber to inspect or photograph your water line if you want definitive confirmation of the material.
Key figures
| Total inventoried lines | 0 |
|---|---|
| BIL/IIJA funding received | — |
| Replacement plan status | Not reported |
| Utility's LCRR inventory | Not provided |
Frequently asked
How do I know if my house has a lead service line?
The most reliable way is to contact MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM and ask if your address is documented with a lead service line, or hire a licensed plumber to inspect the line where it enters your home. You can also request public records from your water utility.
Is the water in Florida safe to drink?
Most Florida tap water is safe, but older homes may have lead service lines or plumbing that can leach lead. MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM regularly tests water quality and publishes results. If you're concerned, get your water tested.
What should I do if my child has been drinking water with lead?
Contact your pediatrician. They can order a blood lead test if appropriate. The CDC has guidance on managing lead exposure at cdc.gov/nceh/lead.
When will MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM finish its lead service line inventory?
The utility is required by federal law to complete and maintain an inventory, but a public timeline for MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM's completion is not yet available. Contact the utility directly for updates.