Lead Service Lines in Millinocket: What Maine Water Company Knows
Maine Water Company's Millinocket Division serves about 5,400 people. Like water systems across the country, it may have lead service lines—the pipes that connect the main water line to homes. These pipes are a concern because lead can leach into drinking water, especially in older pipes or in homes with corrosive water chemistry.
What is a lead service line?
A lead service line is the buried pipe that runs from your water meter (or the street) into your home. Many were installed before the 1980s. If your service line is lead, water sits in it overnight or during low-use periods, and lead can dissolve into the water you drink and cook with. Even "low" lead levels can be a health concern for young children and pregnant people.
What does Maine Water Company Millinocket Division know about lead?
The utility has not yet published a detailed inventory showing how many lead, galvanized, or non-lead service lines exist in its system. Federal law (the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions) requires all water systems to complete a full inventory by October 2024 and share the results with customers.
Until the inventory is public, you won't know for certain whether your home has a lead service line without asking your utility directly or having a plumber inspect your meter area and the pipe going into your home.
How can you find out if your home has a lead service line?
Contact Maine Water Company Millinocket Division and ask:
- "Do you have records showing what material my service line is made of?"
- "Can you tell me whether my property has a lead service line?"
If the utility cannot confirm the material, you can have a licensed plumber inspect the visible portion of your service line at the meter. A simple magnet test can help: lead is not magnetic, while galvanized steel is.
Reducing exposure while you wait
If you suspect or know you have a lead service line:
- Run water from the cold-water tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking (flushing removes water sitting in the line).
- Use cold water for drinking and cooking; hot water leaches more lead.
- Consider a point-of-use water filter certified to remove lead (NSF/ANSI Standard 53).
- Have your water tested if you have young children or a pregnant household member. Contact your local health department for a certified lab.
For health concerns, speak with your pediatrician or contact the CDC's lead information hotline.
Next steps for residents
- Call or email Maine Water Company Millinocket Division and request your service line material records.
- Ask when the full lead inventory will be published so you can access system-wide data.
- If you have a young child or are pregnant, consider a temporary filter or water test while you investigate your home's service line.
- Check the utility's website or ask in writing for updates on the lead service line replacement plan.
Key figures
| Total inventoried lines | 0 |
|---|---|
| BIL/IIJA funding received | — |
| Replacement plan status | Not reported |
| Utility's LCRR inventory | Not provided |
Frequently asked
Does my water in Millinocket have lead?
That depends on whether your home's service line is made of lead. The main water supply is treated, but lead leaches from old lead pipes in the ground. Maine Water Company has not yet published a detailed inventory; contact them directly with your address to learn your service line material.
How do I know if my house has a lead service line?
Ask your water utility for records of your service line material. If they don't have records, a plumber can inspect the visible portion at your meter. Lead is dull gray, soft, and not magnetic; galvanized steel is shiny and magnetic.
Is it safe to drink Millinocket water?
The water system treats the water supply, but lead service lines can contaminate water in individual homes. If you have a lead service line, flushing the tap for 30 seconds and using cold water reduces exposure. For health concerns, ask your doctor.
When will Millinocket replace lead service lines?
Federal law requires water systems to inventory lead lines by October 2024 and develop a replacement plan. Contact Maine Water Company Millinocket Division to ask about their replacement timeline and any funding available to help with costs.