Lead service line

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A lead service line (LSL, also known as lead service pipe,^[1] and lead connection pipe^[2]) is a pipe made of lead which is used in potable water distribution to connect a water main to a user's premises.

Lead exposure is a public health hazard as it causes developmental effects in fetuses, infants, and young children. It also has other health effects in adults. According to the World Health Organization, the presence of lead service lines is the most significant contributor of lead contamination in drinking water in many countries.^[3]

The most certain way to eliminate lead exposure in drinking water from the lead service lines is to replace them with pipes made from other materials. However, replacement is time-consuming and costly. The difficulty is exacerbated in many locations by ownership structure with a shared responsibility between water utilities and property owners, which requires cooperation between the two entities. Some water utilities employ corrosion control as a short-term solution while working through long-term replacement projects. A potential issue with corrosion control is constant monitoring of its effectiveness. There have been widespread lead exposures resulting from failures of corrosion control, such as the Flint water crisis.