Water Service Lines

As a part of the Federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), the City of Ellensburg Public Works Water Division was required to create a comprehensive inventory of all water service lines within its public water system by October 16, 2024. The LCRI helps to create a mechanism to identify potential health risks from lead and copper which may be present in water delivery systems.

This LCRI inventory, which is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), designates all water system service lines to be categorized according to the following: Lead, Galvanized Requiring Replacement, Non-Lead, or Unknown. This designation refers to both the City-owned portion, and the privately owned portion of the service line. Ownership of water service lines is split at the meter box, commonly referred to as a curb stop. The City owns the portion from the main to the curb stop and the private owners are responsible for the portion from the curb stop to the house (see image below). Historically, the City of Ellensburg Water Division has not collected material data on the homeowner side of the service line; therefore, many of these are shown as “unknown” in the inventory.

The EPA has required that all owner/occupant City water customers receive notification of their service line “Unknown Material” status, and letters were originally sent in November 2024. New letters will go out in November 2025.

What does this mean if you received a letter? An “Unknown Material” classification means that the private portion of the service line (from the curb stop to your service address) is made of unknown material and could potentially contain lead or other materials. Any structure built and served prior to 1986 could have a service line containing lead or a galvanized line that previously was downstream of a lead service line.

The City Water Division completes system-wide Lead and Copper testing regularly and has no record of a sample that exceeded the maximum contaminant limit (MCL). However, there is limited knowledge of the material makeup of privately owned portions of service lines.

The City Water Division will be conducting inspections on a portion (but not all) service lines that are made of unknown material. Property owners and water customers may also take steps to determine the material and submit that information through an online Water Line Service Survey.

Below is additional information about testing and inspecting service lines to determine the material and more details from the EPA about the potential health impacts of service lines that contain lead.

Our City’s Water Division Team is committed to delivering high-quality drinking water to our community. Please contact us with any questions or concerns about the service line inventory during business hours.  

City of Ellensburg Public Works Department
pubworks@ellensburgwa.gov
509-962-7230

Identifying Service Line Material

EPA developed an online step-by-step guide to help people identify lead pipes in their homes.

To help determine the material of your service line, please call (509) 962-7230 during business hours (weekdays, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. or email pubworks@ellensburgwa.gov.

View the City of Ellensburg’s service line inventory.

Health Effects of Lead

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or worsen existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these negative health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney, or nervous system problems.

Steps to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information. It is not intended to be a complete list. It does not imply that all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water.

Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, visit EPA’s filters to reduce lead website.

Clean your aerator. Regularly remove and clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water. 

Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.

Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes providing water to your home, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home. [Include tailored flushing information, if appropriate, or add following language] Residents may contact us at [phone number and/or email address] for recommendations about flushing times in their community.

Have your water tested. Contact us, your water utility, at (509) 962-7230 or send an email to pubworks@ellensburgwa.gov for more information about having your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water. Alternatively, you may contact a certified laboratory to have your water tested for lead. A list of certified laboratories is available by contacting us at (509) 962-7230 or pubworks@ellensburgwa.gov, or at the Public Works counter at City Hall.

Note, a water sample may not adequately capture or represent all sources of lead that may be present. Visit EPA’s basic information webpage at for information on sources of lead that include service lines and interior plumbing.

Further Information About The Health Effects of Lead

A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about how you can have your child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends public health actions when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more. Visit EPA’s Basic Information website for more information and links to CDC’s website.

For more information on reducing lead exposure from your drinking water and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Lead website.

Certified Labs For Testing

If interested, these certified labs can be contacted for testing. The customer is responsible for contacting the lab, taking the sample, and any costs associated with the testing.

• Anatek Labs – Yakima, WA – (509) 225-9404
• Eurofins Laboratory/Cascade Analytical – Yakima, WA – (509) 452- 7707
• Edge Analytical – Burlington, WA – (360) 757-1400