Lakeville Lead Service Line Inventory

What you need to know

Lakeville serves about 67,300 people in Minnesota. The water system draws from groundwater sources.

As of now, Lakeville has not completed a public inventory of lead service lines. This means the utility hasn't yet published a count of how many homes are connected to lead pipes, or where those pipes are located. This is not unusual—many water systems across the US are still in the early stages of mapping their service lines.

Why this matters

A lead service line is the pipe that connects your home to the water main under the street. If your home was built before the 1980s, or if you don't know what material your service line is made of, there's a possibility it could contain lead. Lead can leach into drinking water, especially in homes with older plumbing or when water sits in pipes overnight.

The safest approach is to **assume your service line might contain lead if your home was built before 1986**, when lead was still widely used in water systems nationwide.

What Lakeville should do next

Federal law requires all water systems to:

• Identify and map all lead service lines
• Develop a plan to replace them
• Make this information public

Lakeville is required to have this inventory completed and available. If you don't see it published, it's likely still in progress.

What you can do right now

You don't need to wait for the utility's inventory to protect your family. Even if you don't know whether your service line contains lead, you can take steps today:

• Test your tap water for lead using an affordable home test kit (hardware stores, online retailers)
• Flush your pipes by running cold water for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has sat in pipes for several hours
• Use cold water for drinking and cooking—hot water leaches lead more readily
• Contact Lakeville directly to ask about your specific property's service line material and the status of their inventory

If you have young children or are pregnant, talk to your pediatrician or doctor about lead exposure risks in your area.

Next steps for residents

• Contact Lakeville Water Utility to request your service line information and ask when the inventory will be public
• Get your tap water tested—the EPA recommends testing at the kitchen tap where you get drinking water
• Call the Minnesota Department of Health if you have questions about lead in drinking water (651-201-4700)
• If your home was built before 1986, consider flushing practices and use cold water for consumption until you know more

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```json [ { "q": "Does Lakeville water have lead in it?", "a": "Lakeville hasn't yet published a complete inventory of lead service lines, so it's unknown how many homes are affected. Lead comes from pipes and fixtures, not from the water source itself. Testing your tap water is the quickest way to know if lead is present in your home." }, { "q": "How do I know if I have a lead service line?", "a": "Contact Lakeville Water Utility with your address and ask about your service line material. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead. A water test can also reveal whether lead is leaching into your drinking water." }, { "q": "Is it safe to drink water from a lead service line?", "a": "Lead service lines can leach lead into drinking water, especially if water sits in pipes for hours or if your plumbing is old. Flushing pipes before use, using cold water for drinking, and testing your tap water are practical steps to reduce exposure." }, { "q": "When will Lakeville replace lead service lines?", "a": "Lakeville is required by law to inventory lead service lines and develop a replacement plan, but no public timeline is available yet. Contact the utility directly to ask about