CARDIFF TOOKES SPRING Water System Lead Service Lines
What We Know About Lead in Your Water Line
CARDIFF TOOKES SPRING serves 152 people in New York. The water system has completed an inventory of service lines—the pipes that connect the main water line to homes. Here's what they found:
- 17,253 lead service lines (confirmed lead)
- 16,719 service lines with unknown material (could be lead or other metals)
- 5,237 non-lead service lines
- 39,209 total service lines inventoried
Lead service lines are a real concern. Water sitting in lead pipes can pick up lead over time, especially if your water is corrosive (acidic) or if pipes are old and corroded inside. Children and pregnant people face the highest health risks.
What This Means for Your Home
If your service line is lead or unknown, you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in water. The only way to know for sure if lead is present in your water is to test it. Lead levels vary by home depending on water chemistry, pipe age, and how long water has sat in the pipe.
The EPA recommends that water systems reduce corrosion to help protect against lead leaching. Ask your water utility about their corrosion control practices.
What's Being Done
CARDIFF TOOKES SPRING has completed its service line inventory, which is a required first step. The next phases—developing a replacement plan and funding replacements—depend on state and federal support. Lead service line replacement is expensive; most systems cannot do it alone.
You can request information directly from the utility about your specific service line and what they recommend.
Next Steps for Residents
- Test your water through your local health department or an EPA-certified lab. Free or low-cost testing may be available.
- Contact CARDIFF TOOKES SPRING to ask whether your property has a known lead service line and what replacement options exist.
- Talk to your pediatrician or local health department if you have concerns about lead exposure, especially for children under 6.
- Use cold water for drinking and cooking; hot water dissolves lead faster from pipes.
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Key figures
| Total inventoried lines | 39,209 |
|---|---|
| BIL/IIJA funding received | — |
| Replacement plan status | Not reported |
| Utility's LCRR inventory | Not provided |
Frequently asked
Is lead in water dangerous?
Lead is a toxic metal that can harm brain development in children, cause learning problems, and affect development of the fetus in pregnant people. There is no safe level of lead. The CDC has more information on health effects at cdc.gov.
How do I know if my water has lead?
You cannot see or taste lead in water. The only way to know is to test it. Contact your local health department about free or low-cost testing kits, or hire an EPA-certified lab.
Does boiling water remove lead?
No. Boiling water actually concentrates lead because water evaporates but lead does not. Use cold water for drinking and cooking; water that sits in pipes overnight picks up more lead, so run the tap for 30 seconds before using.
How long does it take to replace a lead service line?
Replacing a service line typically takes 1–3 days per home, but the utility must identify all lead lines first and secure funding. Ask your water system about their replacement timeline and whether assistance programs exist.