Do I Have a Lead Service Line?

Use the map below to check if Lincoln Water System’s records indicate your service line is made of lead or galvanized steel. If your service line material is listed as unknown, it may be lead or lead-contaminated galvanized steel if it was installed before 1950.

Because a service line is mostly buried underground, it is not possible to know for certain what it is made of without hiring a contractor to dig down and inspect it. But you can usually see the service line where it enters your building near the water meter. This is the part of the service line where you can use the Magnet and Penny test below to identify the pipe type of your service line.

Water Service Line

Steps to Take

Look Up Online

Use Lincoln Water System's interactive map to look up the status of the service line on your property and determine if it is non-lead, lead, or lead-contaminated galvanized steel.

lincoln.ne.gov/​WaterServiceLineMap

Key to the Map

  • The service line is non-lead.
  • The service line is lead and lead-contaminated galvanized steel.
  • Part of the service line is unknown.
  • The service line is unknown.
  • Part of the service line is lead-contaminated galvanized steel.

Next Know When Your House Was Built

Know When Your House Was Built

If your service line is listed as unknown on the map, you can use the age of your home to help determine if you may have a lead or lead-contaminated galvanized steel service line.

In Lincoln, lead service lines are most often found in homes built prior to 1940. If your house was built after 1949, it is very unlikely you have (or ever had) a lead service line. Copper began to replace lead and galvanized steel for use in the 1920s and by the 1940s service lines were usually copper. The age of your home is a good starting point for figuring out if you might have or had a lead service line. However, many of these older service lines have already been replaced with more modern materials.

Property Information Lookup

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Next Magnet and Penny Test Previous Look Up Online

Magnet and Penny Test

Using a magnet and a penny, you can identify the type of metal used in a section of your service line. Perform this test on the pipe that is exposed between the water meter and where the pipe enters your home. Keep in mind, this test only identifies a portion of your service line. The most likely section of service line to be made of lead is buried underground between the water main and the water shut-off valve, called a curb stop, outside. It was a common practice to install a small section of lead pipe at the water main and connect it to a longer pipe made of galvanized steel that ran to the water meter.

This test can also be used to identify metals used in other home plumbing.

Photo showing where to test Perform this test on the pipe that is exposed between the water meter and where the pipe enters your home.

Lead pipe scratched with a penny Lead Pipe

  • A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe.
  • Scratch the pipe with a penny. If the scraped area is shiny silver and flakes off, the pipe is lead.

Copper pipe scratched with a penny Copper Pipe

  • A magnet will not stick to a copper pipe.
  • Scratch the pipe with a penny. If the scraped area is copper in color, like the penny, the pipe is copper.

Galvanized steel pipe with a magnet stuck to it Galvanized Steel Pipe

  • If a magnet sticks to the surface, the pipe is galvanized steel.
  • A scratch test is not needed. If you scratch it, the pipe will remain a dull gray.

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