Lead Service Lines in Lewiston
What you need to know about your water pipes
Lewiston City of serves about 15,000 people. The water system draws from surface water sources and is required by federal law to maintain an inventory of lead service lines—the pipes that connect homes to the public water main.
Current status: As of now, Lewiston has not yet completed a full inventory of lead service lines in the community. This means the water utility is still in the process of identifying which homes may have lead pipes.
Why this matters
Lead service lines are a direct path for lead to enter your drinking water. If your home was built before the 1980s, there's a higher chance your connection contains lead—but the only way to know for certain is through testing or a completed utility inventory.
Lead exposure is a health concern, especially for children and pregnant people. Even low levels of lead in drinking water can affect development and learning.
What Lewiston is doing
Water utilities across the country are required to develop and publish inventories of lead service lines by specific federal deadlines. Lewiston is working toward completing this inventory, which will eventually show which homes are at higher risk.
The inventory process typically involves:
- Reviewing old service line records and water main installation dates
- Conducting field inspections where records are unclear
- Testing water samples to detect lead levels
- Creating a public map or list of affected addresses
What you can do now
You don't have to wait for the inventory to take action. If you're concerned about lead in your water:
- Contact Lewiston City of directly to ask about your specific service line. They may already have records about your home, even if the full inventory isn't published yet.
- Test your water at home using an inexpensive kit or through a certified lab. Results take days to weeks but give you a clear answer.
- Use a certified filter (NSF/ANSI 53) if preliminary testing suggests lead is present.
For health concerns, speak with your pediatrician or contact the CDC's lead information line.
Next steps for residents
- Call or email Lewiston City of to ask if your address has a known lead service line or galvanized pipe
- Request a free or low-cost water test through your local health department
- Check the utility's website for updates on the lead service line inventory rollout
- If testing shows lead, install a point-of-use filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified) on your kitchen tap
Key figures
| Total inventoried lines | 0 |
|---|---|
| BIL/IIJA funding received | — |
| Replacement plan status | Not reported |
| Utility's LCRR inventory | Not provided |
Frequently asked
Does Lewiston have lead in the water?
Lead levels depend on individual homes and their pipes. Lewiston is currently completing an inventory to identify which service lines contain lead. Testing your own water is the most reliable way to know your home's status.
How do I find out if my house has a lead service line?
Contact Lewiston City of with your address—they may have records already. You can also request a free or low-cost water test through your local health department to check for lead in your tap water.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Lewiston right now?
Lewiston treats water to reduce lead, but the safest approach is to test your specific home. If testing shows lead above 15 ppb (the federal action level), use a certified filter or switch to bottled water while you plan longer-term fixes.
When will Lewiston finish its lead service line inventory?
Lewiston has not yet published a completion date. Contact the utility directly to ask about their timeline and whether they've identified your home's service line type.