Water Service Line Notifications

The City of Oakwood operates its own public water system. We have eight water production wells and three water treatment plants that comply with all Ohio and United States EPA regulations. Our water is tested annually for lead and copper content and results are well below the EPA “Action Levels,” which are 15 parts per billion for lead and 1,300 parts per billion for copper. Detailed information can be found in our Water Production Report and the annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report on the city website.

Just recently the EPA determined that every public water system in the United States submit an inventory of its service lines i.e., the underground pipes that connect the city-owned water mains to your home. Some portion of these service lines are owned by the city, but the majority of each line is owned by property owners. The purpose of the inventory is to determine if public and private pipes are made of lead, galvanized material, copper, or other unknown material. Given the age of our infrastructure, we have many homes in which the material is unknown.

The city submitted its inventory on October 16, 2024. Next, we are required to notify water consumers who have lines made from lead, galvanized material, or “lead status unknown” material.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency most recently issued a series of regulations known as the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements that took effect October 8, 2024, requiring utilities to notify all customers who may have a lead service line serving their property. This also includes customers who have lines made from galvanized steel, which may contain lead, as well as customers who have lines in which the material is unknown. Locations made of other materials will not be notified.

No action is required at this time. The notice is intended to inform residents and businesses, to the best of our knowledge, of the material from which the water service line is made, and steps that can be taken to mitigate the risk of lead or other materials in the line, if any.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Public Works Director Doug Spitler at 937-298-0777.