As part of its updated rules for lead and copper, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires water providers to inventory all water service lines. These service lines are the small buried pipes that deliver water from the water main in the street to the building plumbing. Springfield Utility Board (SUB) completed its initial inventory in 2024.
To complete the initial inventory, SUB reviewed historical records, as-built drawings, leak repair reports, and records from new service installations. In addition, water maintenance staff performed field inspections. This process identified approximately half of the services in SUB’s system.
To inventory the remaining services, SUB used a statistical method approved by the Oregon Health Authority. This involved randomly selecting hundreds of services and conducting field work to determine pipe material. This statistical approach demonstrated with a 95% confidence level that there are no lead service lines on either the utility side or the customer side of the meter. (See illustration below.)
SUB will continue to update the inventory periodically as new water pipe material data is collected during routine maintenance and utility improvement projects.
Water service line material information is available to the public via an online map, Service Line Locator Map.
Please refer to the SUB Service Line Map - User Guide (PDF) if you have questions navigating the map.
