The City of Tallahassee

Water Service Lines

For more than 120 years, the City of Tallahassee has been providing our community with clean, safe, and reliable drinking water. Our commitment and our passion run deep – from rigorous testing and advanced technology to national and international certifications for environmental protection.

Since 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule has established guidelines to minimize lead and copper in drinking water across the United States. The City's delivery of water to customers consistently meets all of these and other regulatory health-based standards, and there is no record of lead in City-owned water service lines.

In accordance with the EPA's LCRR applicable to all water utilities nationwide, the City is working to identify service line materials throughout the water system. Based on a review of historical records and water system plans, the City has developed an inventory of utility-owned and customer-owned water service line materials.

People living in homes with a lead or galvanized pipe previously connected to a lead service line have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water. However, we want to assure customers that the City carefully regulates the water chemistry to ensure lead levels remain well below federal regulatory limits at our treatment facilities and throughout the water distribution system.

City of Tallahassee water quality experts are always available to help customers and answer any questions. You can email us at drinkingwater@talgov.com or call 850-891-5271.

Water Service Line Address Look Up Tool and Survey

Residents can find the survey and information about the water service line at their home or business by using the address lookup tool in the water service line inventory available below. This inventory is best viewed on a desktop computer, is dynamic and will change as we gather more information.

As we have for more than 120 years, the City of Tallahassee will continue to ensure the drinking water we provide our customers is safe, reliable and of the highest quality.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a water service line?
A service line is an underground pipe that connects your home to the public water main, delivering water to faucets, bathtubs, showers, and other fixtures.
Did you receive a Water Service Line Material Notice from the City of Tallahassee?
The City of Tallahassee is required by the EPA under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions to notify customers if part, or all, of the water service line material needs to be identified or replaced. There is no record of lead in City-owned water service lines. If all parts of your water service line have previously been confirmed to be non-lead, you will not receive a letter. All customers can access service line material data via the Water Service Line Inventory.

If you received a letter notifying you that your service line material is currently unknown, you can help identify your service line material by completing the survey linked with your address in the Water Service Line Inventory.
Where can I locate my service line?
Customer side water service lines can typically be seen outside at the meter box. Some service lines may also be visible where the line enters the house.
How can I determine my home's water service line material?
Residents can find information about the water service line at their home or business via the water service line inventory.

Residents with water service lines of currently unknown material are encouraged to learn more and complete a survey linked in the inventory results for their address.
How do I access the Survey?
Use this link to do just that!
What will the City of Tallahassee do with water service line survey results?
Water service line material information validated by the City of Tallahassee will be added to the inventory submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Service lines constructed using outdated materials will be flagged for replacement.
What can I do if I'm concerned that I may have a lead service line at my home or business?
Notify the City by email at DrinkingWater@Talgov.com or by phone at 850-891-5271. Although lead service lines have the potential to leach lead into drinking water, the water chemistry in the City of Tallahassee distribution system is carefully managed to prevent this from happening. This means that lead may not necessarily be in the drinking water even if the service line is made from lead.
How does lead get into water?
Lead is seldom found as a natural contaminant in drinking water and generally originates from lead-based plumbing materials. Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials containing lead corrode over time. These materials include pipes made of lead, lead-based solder used to join copper pipe and brass and chrome-plated brass faucets. Lead service lines are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. In the City of Tallahassee, these materials are highly unlikely to be found in homes built after 1977, as lead was prohibited in the construction of service lines in that year.
What steps can I take to reduce the potential for lead exposure?
Run your faucet a bit before use. Thirty seconds to a minute is usually sufficient. This is particularly important after prolonged periods of limited or no use (i.e., after sleeping, vacations, closed business hours, etc.). Bringing fresh water into your plumbing before use will help ensure that any dissolved lead has been flushed out of the plumbing and fixtures.

Use water only from the cold tap for drinking, brushing your teeth, food preparation and cooking, as hot water can dissolve lead more quickly than cold water.

Clean or change your faucet aerator screens regularly. Sediment, calcium and lead deposits from your plumbing can accumulate on the screens and contribute to poor water quality and lower flow at the faucet.

Note that lead does not absorb through the skin, so showering or bathing with hot water does not pose a risk.
How can I test the water at my home?
The City offers resources to help customers gather more information about water quality in their homes, including free in-home water quality testing. Appointments for in-home water quality testing can be made by calling 850-891-1200.
Where can I find more information about the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions?
For more information on the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, visit epa.gov/lead.