Water Service Lines

Underground is a network of pipes that supply public drinking water to homes, schools, businesses, and properties. A water service line is a pipe that transports water from the water main in the street to private property. The Hillsborough Water & Sewer Commission (HWSC) is responsible for maintaining water infrastructure within the Town right-of-way. HWSC maintains the water service line from the water main in the street up to the curb box (water shut off). The property owner is responsible for maintaining the rest of the water service line after the curb box.

Service Line Materials
Water service lines can be made of copper, plastic, brass, galvanized steel, or lead. The use of lead pipes and solder became banned in 1986, but older homes may still find lead present in the original plumbing. In Hillsborough, water service lines are typically made of copper pipe. However, it’s still possible for lead service lines or lead-lined galvanized steel to exist within a property owner’s private property.

New federal Lead & Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) have been issued to require all water systems across the United States to create and maintain a public inventory of service line materials by October 16, 2024, in compliance with the revised Lead and Copper Rule. This new regulation was developed to better protect communities from possible exposure to lead in drinking water by providing the public with information on what material each water line service is made of for every home on a public water supply in the country. The new rule proposes a 10-year timeline to remove all lead pipes from water systems across the United States, beginning by 2027.

The HWSC’s Service Line Inventory Project to identify all water service lines started in November 2023. As of October 11, 2024, 0 service lines have been identified to be made of lead, 22 service lines have been detected with galvanized steel (which may need to be replaced since these services are assumed to have possibly absorbed lead), and 271 are noted as Unknown (43 property owner only side and 228 municipal side). The Hillsborough Water & Sewer Commission will be mailing letters to property owners with unknown material service lines.

These documents will be updated annually. Water systems serving less than 50,000 customers do not need to publish online a lead service line inventory, but Hillsborough elects to make this information easily accessible to the public.

If your water service line is identified to have galvanized steel, you will receive a letter from the HWSC to notify you that a lead service line pipe may have been present in the past and that lead may have been absorbed into the galvanized steel and can contribute to lead in the drinking water. You will be provided with information on ways to reduce lead exposure in drinking water and contact information to request a free water test at our lab. If you plan to replace the portion of the service line that you own, please notify us at (603) 464-7982. This letter will be sent annually in accordance with federal regulations until service lines containing lead are removed or the water system can verify that the service line does not contain lead.

If your water service line has still not been identified, you will receive a letter from the HWSC  to notify you that your unknown material has the potential to be made of lead or galvanized steel pipe. People living in homes with a lead or galvanized steel pipe previously connected to a lead service line have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water. You will be provided with information on ways to reduce lead exposure in drinking water and contact information to request a free water test at our lab. This letter will be sent annually in accordance with federal regulations until service lines containing lead are removed or the water system can verify that the service line does not contain lead.

If you haven’t received a letter previously and don’t receive a letter by the end of 2024, your service line material does not contain lead.

Hillsborough has been proactive in staying ahead of any regulations and will continue to put public health and safety as our top priority. We will continue to work on the Water Service Line Inventory Project and appreciate the community’s assistance in making Hillsborough lead-free. 

For properties that only the private side of the service line is Unknown, contact us to help you identify your service line material or use the self-reporting form below (scroll down). You can take the following steps to inspect your own service line and report your findings to the Town of Hillsborough’s Water Commission Office:

1) Locate Your Service Line
Find the water meter in your basement or crawl space and inspect the service line that enters your home before the meter.

2) Scratch Test – Determine Your Pipe Material
Use a house key or coin to carefully scratch the pipe’s surface. Compare and match the scratched area to the following pipe descriptions:

Copper: A copper pipe is the same color as a penny. Older copper pipes may show colors of green or blue. A magnet will not stick to a copper pipe.

Galvanized Steel: A galvanized steel pipe is black, dull gray, or silver with threaded ends and will have no noticeable scratch on the surface. A magnet will stick to a galvanized steel pipe.

Lead: A lead pipe is dull gray or silver and soft, which will leave a noticeable shiny scratch on the surface. A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe.

Plastic: A plastic pipe is smooth and usually white, black, red, or blue. A magnet will not stick to a plastic pipe.

3) Take a Photo
Take a picture showing the material of your service line after completing the scratch test. The scratched surface (on the section of the pipe between where the pipe enters your property and the water meter) should be visible in your photo.

4) Report Your Service Line Material
Complete our online form and send us your photo to notify us of your service line material.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important test to identify the service line on your property. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us.

All other Unknown service lines will require excavation at the Curb Stop to expose both sides of the service line to verify the materials. The Commission is currently working on a plan to effectively and efficiently complete that work. As the plan advances the Commission will keep the public informed.

Lead is not normally found in drinking water at the source. Typically, lead gets into drinking water from the service lines and from plumbing and fixtures inside the home that contain lead. If corrosion of pipes occur, lead and other materials from the pipes slowly dissolve into the water. The Town of Hillsborough has complied with the federal Lead and Copper Rule since its inception in 1991. It’s our mission to provide Hillsborough with drinking water that is of higher quality than all current state and federal water quality standards. For more information about water quality, please check out our 2024 water quality report.

Lead in Drinking Water (NHDES)
Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water (EPA)