Fairhope Public Utilities Commitment to Our Community

Fairhope Public Utilities is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of our community. The following initiative ensures transparency and safety in our water distribution system. Fairhope Public Utilities regularly invests in upgrading its infrastructure to ensure the safety and reliability of the water supply, and we remain committed to maintaining high water quality, as demonstrated in our annual Water Quality Report.

On October 8th, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule, updating the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, introducing new guidelines known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) to protect against lead and copper contamination in drinking water.  These updates require drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that residents are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them.

The Fairhope Public Utilities cares about the health of the families in our community and wants you to know we fully comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule as directed by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).

Where Can Lead in Drinking Water Come From?

Lead can come from corrosive water encountering lead water service lines running between the water main in the street and the home.  Another source that can cause lead is from plumbing inside the home.  Lead does not come from the treatment plant or water main.

In preparation for compliance with the EPA rule, FPU has already begun a service line verification project to confirm the absence of lead lines in its service area. We are pleased that, to date, we have already identified approximately 80% of the public-owned service lines. We are continuing our efforts to complete verification of the remaining unknowns and will update the records to reflect the findings.

The FPU has been utilizing corrosion control treatments to protect the integrity of the system water mains.  The use of corrosion control treatments is also an effective means at reducing the chances of lead entering the water stream from lead service lines and household plumbing containing led. The EPA's LCRI aims to identify service line materials, strengthen drinking water safety, and replace lead service lines nationwide.

The use of lead and lead solder in plumbing was discontinued in 1986 and the use of lead services was banned in Alabama in 1989. However, some homes may still have lead connections or internal fixtures that contain lead. The best way to determine if you have lead pipes is to contact a plumber.

FPU takes steps to control water chemistry by utilizing a safe to consume, corrosion inhibitor that coats the pipes and prevents lead and copper from leaking into your drinking water. To date, FPU test results are consistently below the action level established by ADEM.

Our Asset Management Program helps us maintain our system and better serve you. To this end, and to meet the recent changes in the Lead & Copper Rule section of the Safe Drinking Water Act, we are working to verify service pipe material types on both sides of our customers’ water meters. FPU will be finalizing field verifications of the remaining unknown service line materials over the next year by performing shallow hand digging around water meters. If you have any questions, please contact our Service Line Verification Team via email at watercustomer@fairhopeal.gov or by calling 251-928-8003.

What is a Service Line?

Service lines bring water from the water distribution main in the public right-of-way into your home. When water leaves FPU’s water wells, it is clean and lead-free. The water mains underground that transport water to your home or business do not contain or add lead to the drinking water. Lead can leach into the water supply when it passes through a service line containing lead or sits stagnant for approximately six hours or more in any household plumbing that contains lead. FPU’s Corrosion Control Program is in place to help counter the effects of water that is allowed to stagnate in pipes that may contain lead.

Check Your Service Line Status

The interactive map below can be used to look up your address in our records and learn if your service line material has been verified. Simply search for your address below using the search bar at the top-right corner of the map. If your address comes up as "unknown" (or if the dot on your residence is blue) this means that we have not yet identified and documented the information in this database. An "unknown" status does not mean your service line contains lead.

If you suspect lead pipes or want your water tested for lead, FPU encourages you to have your water tested by one of the certified labs near our area listed below. There is a fee from the certified labs for the testing.

Pace Analytical
4320 Midmost Dr.
Mobile, AL 36609
(251) 344-9106

Eurofins Scientific
900 Lakeside Dr.
Mobile, AL 36633
(251) 666-6633

Frequently Asked Questions

Are other Water Utilities Required to perform a Service Line Verification?

Yes, all water utilities per the EPA are required to perform a Service Line Verification.

What is a Water Service Line?

A water service line is a small pipe that carries water from the utility's water main, located underground in the street, to an individual home or other building.

Who is responsible for the water service line on my property?

The ownership and responsibility are divided between the property owner and the utility, with the dividing line being the water meter. The water meter is typically located in your front yard at the property line. FPU is responsible for the service line from the water main to the meter. The property owner is responsible for the service line from the meter to the home or business.

What type of materials can service lines be made from?

Service lines can be made of lead, galvanized steel, plastic, brass, copper, cast iron or ductile iron.

Why might the water service line or plumbing fixture in a home or business contain lead?

Plumbing in homes or businesses built prior to 1989 might possibly contain lead pipe. The same is true for service lines installed before 1989, both public and private. This is why we are working to inventory the private and public service lines. Please keep in mind that the FPU has a Corrosion Control Program designed to help mitigate the potential for lead leaching into the water.

What other sources of lead are there in my home?

Lead can be found in paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, fishing tackle, and cosmetics. Plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, fittings, etc.), and indoor copper plumbing pipes may contain lead solder.

Lead Safety Information

What level of lead is safe to consume?

Since all lead exposure has some risk, we are working to reduce that risk. If any lead service lines are found on FPU's side of the water meter, it will be removed by FPU. If any lead service pipes are found on the customer's side of the meter, we will advise customers to make an informed decision about removal.

How does lead get into the drinking water?

Lead is rarely found in the source water and FPU water consistently tests well below the Federal and State standards. When water leaves FPU’s water wells (treatment facility) and enters the distribution system (the water mains), it is lead-free. The water mains that transport water from the treatment facility do not add lead to the drinking water.

Lead can get into drinking water from the service lines (if containing lead) between the street and your home, or from the lead solder used in the plumbing inside your home. When water sits in the service line or your home plumbing without being used for several hours, such as overnight, the lead may leach into the water.

If I have a lead service line or if my home's plumbing has lead solder, how can I protect myself right now?

If you suspect you have lead solder, you can protect yourself by flushing the plumbing lines in your home. You can do this by running cold water for about 30 seconds to 2 minutes whenever the water in your home has not been used for more than 6 hours. This is typically first thing in the morning or at the end of the day if no one has been home. A licensed plumber can also replace pipes that have lead solder with lead-free pipes.

As an added protection, FPU has a Corrosion Control Program designed to help mitigate the effects of potential lead leaching.

Can I buy a water filter that removes lead?

Yes! You can buy a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) 53-certified water filtration system, which can be installed at the faucet, or a filter pitcher that will remove lead. A water filter installed at the faucet will remove lead that may have entered the water from the service line, indoor plumbing, and plumbing fixtures. Visit this website for more information about NSF filters and a list of certified filters. Water filtration systems are normally installed at point source locations that are used for drinking water (sinks, refrigerators, etc.).

How can lead affect my health?

Exposure to high levels of lead is a serious health risk. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and the elderly. Amounts of lead that typically will not harm adults can slow down the normal mental and physical development of children, particularly those under 6 years old.

How can I decrease lead exposure?

You can take several actions to decrease your lead exposure, including:

• Getting a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)-Certified home water treatment device, faucet, or pitcher filter that removes lead. The device must be both NSF 42- and NSF 53- certified to remove lead. Devices and filters installed at the faucet will remove any lead contained in indoor plumbing and plumbing fixtures.
• Buying plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, sinks, hose bibs, etc.) that have zero- or low-lead content meeting the current “lead-free” requirements. Read the labels of any new plumbing fixtures closely.
• Running tap water for about five minutes before you use it for drinking or cooking, if the water has gone unused for more than six hours. In doing so, you are flushing the stagnant water and are getting fresh water from FPU's water main.
• Using fresh, cold, running water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.
• Removing and cleaning faucet screens and aerators every six months.

DO NOT boil water to remove lead. Boiling water does not remove lead and can increase lead concentration in water.

Can I shower in lead-contaminated water?

Yes. Human skin does not absorb lead in water. Bathing and showering should be safe for you and your children, even if the water contains lead over EPA’s action level.

Where can I get more information about lead in drinking water?

Visit the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule website.