Lead Service Lines in Southern Monroe Water Authority
Southern Monroe Water Authority serves about 8,877 people in Indiana. If you're concerned about lead in your water, here's what you should know about this system.
What is a lead service line?
A lead service line is the pipe that connects your home to the water main under the street. These pipes were common in US construction until the 1980s. If your home was built or connected before then, there's a reasonable chance your service line contains lead—though it's not guaranteed.
Lead can leach into drinking water, especially from older pipes or in homes with naturally acidic water. Even small amounts matter, particularly for young children and pregnant people.
What Southern Monroe Water Authority has reported
As of now, Southern Monroe Water Authority has not completed a full inventory of lead service lines in its system. This means the utility has not yet documented which properties have lead lines, which have non-lead lines, and which are unknown.
This is not unusual—many smaller water systems across the country are still working through their inventories. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires all utilities to complete these inventories, though timelines vary.
What you can do now
You don't need to wait for the full utility inventory to take action. Here are practical steps:
Get your water tested. Contact your local health department or use a certified lab to test for lead. A basic lead test costs $20–50. If lead is present, you'll know whether your home's pipes are the issue.
Ask your utility directly. Call or email Southern Monroe Water Authority and ask about your specific address. They may have partial records even if the full inventory isn't public yet. Request their Lead and Copper Rule testing results, which can hint at system-wide issues.
Check your home's age and pipe type. If your house was built before 1986 and you can see exposed pipes in the basement or crawl space, photos can help a plumber assess the risk.
Install a certified filter if needed. NSF-certified filters (look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53) can reduce lead in drinking water. They're not a permanent fix, but they work while you plan longer-term solutions.
Next steps for residents
- Contact Southern Monroe Water Authority to ask about lead service line status for your address
- Request a lead test of your tap water through your local health department or a certified lab
- If lead is detected, talk to a plumber about service line replacement options and costs
- Visit the EPA's lead page for more information on health effects and treatment
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 I have a lead service line?
You can contact Southern Monroe Water Authority directly to ask about your property, or hire a plumber to inspect. A water test will tell you if lead is present in your tap water, though that doesn't always confirm the source.
Is lead in water dangerous?
Lead can harm development and learning in young children and pose risks during pregnancy. For health guidance specific to your situation, contact your pediatrician or the CDC.
What should I do if my water tests positive for lead?
Use bottled or filtered water for drinking and cooking until you can address the source. Contact a licensed plumber to discuss service line replacement, and call your utility to ask about cost-sharing programs or rebates.
When will Southern Monroe Water Authority finish its lead inventory?
The utility has not publicly announced a completion date yet. Contact them directly for an update on their timeline.