Water Service Line Inventory

The Franklin Public Works Department is undertaking a federally mandated survey of all customer service pipe materials. The goal of this program is to identify lead components of the drinking water system.

While there have been no identified instances of lead exceedances in Franklin, we are mandated to identify and address any potential sources of lead that may exist. Our goal is to proactively replace any existing lead service lines to ensure the quality of drinking water and protect the health of our residents. We maintain a strong commitment to continuous monitoring, rigorous testing, and targeted infrastructure improvements to minimize lead exposure and maintain the highest standards of water safety. We encourage our residence to stay informed about our ongoing efforts and collaborate with us to establish a lead-free water system.

Did you receive a RED or YELLOW notice from the water department?

The Franklin Water Department is required to send annual notices to all addresses/ property owners who either have identified a service material that will require replacement, or are still an unknown pipe material. If you received a red or yellow notice from the Town, please read it carefully and follow the links at the bottom of this page for more information. NOTE NOT ALL RESIDENTS WILL BE RECEIVING A NOTICE.

See the YouTube video Service Line Inventory Consumer Notification Guide, presented by MassDEP Drinking Water Program to walk you through this notice by using this link: htps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21gs7FQq0X8

We Need Your Help!

The best way to gather data on every customer's service is to have you send us a picture of your water meter. Your water service enters the house at the water meter and we can gather pipe material information from the pictures.

Complete the survey and submit your inspection findings.

Or contact the Franklin Department of Public Works at 508-553-5500 to schedule an in home inspection so that we can verify the material of your service line.

What Is Your Service Line Material Listed As?

Please visit the Town's Lead Service Line Inventory website for detailed information and updates on the inventory's progress.

Opportunities to Replace Galvanized Requiring Replacement Service Lines

Franklin Department of Public Works has developed a Lead Service Line Replacement Program with the goal of removing all the lead service lines in the water system by 2037.

The Town of Franklin intends to replace the portion of the service line under Town ownership if it hasn’t already been replaced; while replacing this line, we offer to replace the homeowner’s portion of the service line at the homeowner’s expense. If you as the homeowner do not replace your portion of the service line, you may experience a temporary increase in lead levels in your drinking water; we strongly recommend having your portion of the service line replaced when the Town replaces the service line portion under Town ownership. For more information on water service responsibility please visit our site here: https://www.franklinma.gov/569/Have-a-Leak-or-Blockage

If the Town side has already been replaced, it is strongly encouraged that the homeowner replace their portion of the service line. All service line work is to be completed by a licensed drainlayer in Town. The list of licensed drainlayers can be found here: https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1581/Licensed-Drain-Layers-PDF

If you are planning on replacing the portion of the service line that you own, please notify us at Franklin Department of Public Works at 508-553-5500 or email JStandley@franklinma.gov

Financing for Homeowner Lead/GRR Service Line Replacement

Please consider contacting your home insurance company regarding any information they may have on insurance solutions.

What You Should Know About Lead

Our system's water mains that carry the water to you are made mostly of iron, concrete, plastic, and copper so therefore do not add lead to water. However, lead can get into tap water through the service line that connects your home to the water main if it is made of lead. Lead may also come from lead solder used to connect pipes in home plumbing, and from some faucets and fixtures.

When lead is present in water, it is typically due to the water flowing through service lines or internal pipes or plumbing in buildings with lead pipes or plumbing with lead solder or brass. 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 exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Because lead may pose serious health risks, both the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that "there is no known safe level of lead in a child's blood".

If you think you have a lead service line and want to reduce your exposure to lead you should do the following:

Run your water to flush out lead. Lead levels increase over 􀆟me as water sits in lead-containing plumbing materials. Before drinking or cooking with your water after it has sat overnight or longer, flush your home’s pipes by running water through the kitchen faucet, taking a shower, or doing any other non-consumptive water usage. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold. The amount of time to run the water will depend on the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in your home.
Use only cold, fresh water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold.
Do not boil the water to remove lead. Boiling water does not remove lead.
Check whether your home has a lead service line. If you do, have it removed.
Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead and any copper piping with lead solder. Copper piping with lead solder installed prior to 1986 is likely to have a higher percentage of lead in the solder, as the Safe Drinking Water Act, which banned lead pipes and required lead solder to contain no more than 0.2% lead, passed in 1986. Brass piping and plumbing fixtures installed prior to 2014 may contain up to 8% lead; the 2014 Lead Reduction Act reduced the “lead-free” definition to no more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead of wetted surfaces.
Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. Lead particles can release lead into your water. See how to clean your aerator at: htps://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-12/important-resources-for-safe-drinking-water.pdf
Use your filter properly, if you use a filter. Filters can reduce lead in drinking water. Make sure the filter is certified by NSF to remove lead - it will say so on the package. Follow directions to properly install, use, and replace your filter. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information, and which certifications to look for, visit the EPA’s website at: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/consumer-tool-identifying-point-use-and-pitcher-filters-certified-reduce-lead
Have your child’s blood tested for lead. Children are a higher risk group of the health effects of lead. If you would like to have your child tested, you may contact your health care provider, or the DPH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program here: (800) 532-9571 or https://www.mass.gov/orgs/childhood-lead-poisoning-prevention-program
You cannot see, taste or smell lead in drinking water. Contact us for more information about lead in your drinking water including how to get your water tested by a state certified laboratory, if interested. See the list of labs here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/find-a-certified-laboratory-for-water-testing

Additional Information

For more information on Lead see MassDEP's Lead in Drinking Water webpage

For answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about this Consumer Notice, see the MassDEP Consumer Notice and Service Line Inventory FAQ Webpage:https://www.mass.gov/info-details/consumers-frequently-asked-questions-about-the-lcrr-service-line-inventory

For more information, or if you have questions on how to verify the material of your service line, contact Franklin Department of Public Works at 508-553-5500 or email dpw@franklinma.gov.