View our Service Line Inventory Map and search for your address to determine whether or not your service line contains lead.

Lead is a neurotoxin and can cause serious health problems such as damage to the brain, kidneys, and interfere with red blood cell production.  No amount of lead is safe. Lead is stored in the bones and can be released later in life.  Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development.  Pregnant women can pass lead from their bones to the developing fetus.  Adults with kidney problems or high blood pressure are more susceptible to lead than healthy adults.

Learn more about lead from EPA!

Lead is a common element found in the environment and has been used for years in manufacturing processes for many products. The main sources of lead exposure are lead based paint, lead contaminated dust or soil, and some plumbing material. Lead can also be found in pottery, some older brass fixtures, clothing, food, and cosmetics.

Water is lead-free when it leaves the treatment plant and can enter drinking water from the corrosion of lead pipes and plumbing materials that contain lead. The City’s Water Treatment Plant uses lime to adjust the pH of the water to combat corrosion before it leaves the plant. Lime is also useful in creating a barrier between metal pipes and the water that flows through them. This inhibits any metal from entering the water.

Sources of lead in water:

Lead service lines – In Norman, public lead service pipes were installed before 1951. Older properties may still have private lead services and household pluming. Lead pipe was banned in 1986 under the Safe Drinking Water Act Lead Ban.

Lead solder – Solder connects pipes in household plumbing. It was also banned in 1986 under the Safe Drinking Water Act Lead Ban.

Brass faucets, valves, and fittings – Until 2014, brass sold in the US and labeled as “lead-free” could contain up to 8% lead. Under the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act implemented in 2014, brass faucets and fixtures cannot contain more than 0.25% lead.

Galvanized Iron pipes – Galvanized iron pipes on the private side can release lead in water if the property has, or previously had, a lead service line on the public side.

If your service line or plumbing within your home contains lead, you should plan to replace your portion of the service line and update plumbing within your home. If you replace your portion of the service line, you must notify the City of Norman Utilities Department at NormanLSLI@normanok.gov, as the City will be responsible for replacing its portion should it also contain lead. Notification entails verification of work done by a licensed plumber or plumbing agency. The City of Norman Utilities Department is working to identify and replace all lead service lines found on the public side.

If you are unable to replace your portion of the service line, you should flush your pipes before using any water for consumption. Run the water until the temperature changes and becomes consistent and only use cold water for drinking and cooking. Additionally, you can filter water using an NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter for removing lead before drinking and cooking, which includes making infant formula, beverages and ice.

Public service lines may be replaced in conjunction with construction projects or in emergency situations. The City is working to identify all service lines containing lead and replacing them when able. During projects, the City will replace the service line in public spaces and can help provide resources to contact licensed plumbing contractors for property owners interested in replacing the private side. Replacements of the water service pipe on private property will be made at the property owner’s expense. Property owners are strongly encouraged to take advantage of replacing their line during the replacement of the public side.

You can find more information about lead by visiting the EPA, CDC, or Norman websites.

Drinking water provided by the city is lead-free as it leaves the treatment plant and moves through our water mains. Service lines connect to our water mains and lead to homes and businesses. These lines may contain lead and are a source of lead in drinking water. Other sources of lead include galvanized iron pipes, lead solder, and brass faucets or fixtures inside homes.

Any information used to update the inventory must be verified by a licensed plumbing contractor. If you have information from the contractor who performed the work and an image of the newly installed material, you may report it by emailing the Utilities Department at NormanLSLI@normanok.gov. Staff will review your information and update the inventory when appropriate.

Sampling at all schools and child-care facilities will be required starting in 2027 under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). This will require systems to sample 20% of these facilities each year for 5 years. While sampling is not required right now, City staff is actively communicating with Norman Public Schools to potentially start the sampling earlier.

The City’s Water Treatment Plant uses lime to adjust pH and prevent corrosion in water pipes throughout the system. Operators measure corrosivity each day to ensure that parameters are met and adjustments to dosages are made if needed. Additionally, staff obtains regulatory lead and copper samples from homes each year under the Lead and Copper Rule. Results can be found on the annual Consumer Confidence Report.

The City’s Line Maintenance Division is conducting field verifications to determine the material of all service lines and replacing lead lines when available. This work began in Fall 2023. The inventory map will be updated accordingly.

Yes. Data collected will continue to be shared with the community via the online Service Line Inventory Map and by certified mail from the City of Norman to impacted property owners that show to have lead, galvanized or unknown material lines. In November 2024, around 5,000 letters were sent to such property owners. Copies of these letters can be accessed below.

• Download letter detailing UNKNOWN LINE information in English here: https://www.normanok.gov/media/20704
• Download letter detailing LEAD LINE information in English here: https://www.normanok.gov/media/20703
• Download letter detailing GALVENIZED LINE information in English here: https://www.normanok.gov/media/20706
• Download letter detailing LEAD LINE information in Spanish here: https://www.normanok.gov/media/20705
• Download letter detailing GALVENIZED LINE information in Spanish here: https://www.normanok.gov/media/20708
• Download letter detailing UNKNOWN LINE information in Spanish here: https://www.normanok.gov/media/20707

As data continues to be fine-tuned and potholing operations continue, additional communication may be sent or posted regarding line materials for community members.

Service lines are made up of public and private sides, as illustrated on this informational webpage. During potholing operations, both the public and private side are surveyed. It is our goal to eventually have all unknown service lines verified. Due to limited staffing and associated costs, requests for potholing by the City of Norman will not be taken at this time. Locations on our current potholing list have been strategically selected based on when the property was platted/home built and specific guidance from the EPA. However, the City of Norman is happy to assist in providing resources for property owners interested in immediately contracting a licensed plumber to determine their private line side material. If you choose to have your private line material verified by a licensed plumber, please provide the City with the name of the plumbing company who performed the work and their material classification, along with any pictures or other pertinent data so that City staff can update the online Service Line Inventory Map.

Note that replacements of the water service pipe on private property will always be made at the property owner’s expense as public dollars cannot be spent on private property. If you choose to replace your private service line, the City must be contacted as we are required to replace the public side, should it contain lead, within a certain amount of time.