PWD completes lead inventory and certifies no lead service lines in system

The Portland Water District (PWD) has announced the successful completion of its comprehensive lead inventory, confirming that there are no lead mains or service lines within its water system.

This significant achievement met the October deadline set by the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule, which mandates Public Water Systems to thoroughly document the materials of both public and privately owned service lines.

Over the past 18 months, PWD has diligently reviewed its water service records and conducted physical inspections, when necessary, of over 56,000 privately owned service lines. This exhaustive process was undertaken to ensure the health and safety of the community by identifying and replacing any lead or unsafe service lines.

During the inventory, PWD discovered and promptly replaced one lead service line and three galvanized service lines, which were removed because they can be a source of lead if they were ever downstream of lead pipes.

"We are proud to report the completion of our lead inventory ahead of the EPA’s deadline," said Chris Crovo, Acting General Manager for the Portland Water District. "This achievement reflects our ongoing dedication to water quality and public health." The Portland Water District’s efforts align with its mission to protect public health and the environment through delivering high-quality water services.

Portland Water District maintains a 1,000-mile network of water mains ranging from 60 inches to 2 inches, pump stations, and reservoirs that bring water from Sebago Lake to home and businesses in Maine. Large mains for transmission extend from PWD’s treatment facility near Standish to Westbrook and Portland.

The district operates four wastewater treatment plants, providing treatment and collection services to customers in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Gorham, Portland, Westbrook, and Windham.

The water district keeps about 25 million gallons of water in storage to help maintain proper pressure and allow for a water reserve in case of an emergency, like a fire or a flood. It serves about 200,000 people across 11 communities and because of that, PWD must ensure that Sebago Lake water quality is of utmost importance.

Sebago Lake itself is more than 300 feet in depth and contains nearly 1 trillion gallons of water which is considered of excellent quality. The source of water in Sebago Lake originates in the Sebago Lake Watershed, which is more than 50 miles long, stretching from Bethel to Standish and includes parts of 24 towns including the towns of Windham and Raymond.

The excellent water quality of the Sebago Lake Watershed is attributed to surrounding forest lands that act as a natural filter for the watershed.

The recent EPA rule is part of a nationwide effort to eliminate lead contamination in drinking water, a move that the Portland Water District fully supports and has proactively addressed with its latest inventory. PWD reviewed paper and digital records going back more than a century and visually inspected thousands of services in the field. This inventory and replacement work underscores PWD’s commitment to providing safe, clean drinking water for its customers. <