Statistically Validating No Lead Or Low Lead For Service Line Inventory Compliance

By Elana Fox

The October 2024 Service Line Inventory deadline is fast approaching. Many water systems are deep in the inventory process, but uncertainties about service line materials pose significant challenges. Treating unknowns as potential lead increases compliance burdens and costs.

While some water systems believe they have minimal or no lead service lines, they lack definitive proof to classify them as "Non-Lead." To meet the inventory deadline, they have three options:

• Maintain unknowns: This requires customer notifications and other compliance measures for all unidentified service lines.
• Field validate: Inspect every unknown service line.
• Statistical analysis: Determine the likelihood of lead or galvanized service lines using data.

Statistical analysis is often the most efficient and cost-effective approach to verifying a lead-free system while building public trust. State guidelines for using statistical analysis and predictive modeling vary. This article breaks down the specifics you need to understand about your state’s guidance to use statistical analysis for no-lead validation and material classification.