Frequently Asked Questions

It is important to note that the District's jurisdiction ends when pipes start to branch off from water mains below the street and into homes. Thus, it is the homeowner's responsibility to address any possible lead piping from the curb into their home and any internal plumbing within their home.

Unfortunately, the District does not have funds available to help offset the costs to homeowners for lead service line replacements; however, we are working with our area's elected officials in the hopes of creating a funding stream.

If you are concerned about the potential presence of lead in the drinking water within your home, the District recommends you reach out to a state-certified laboratory for comprehensive and accurate results.

The EPA has established an action level for lead in drinking water at 15 parts per billion.

There are many great resources available to help residents better understand the impacts of lead in drinking water and how to address it. Here are a few resources that we find to be the most helpful:

• Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
• Lead in Drinking Water
• American Water Works Association

The Riverhead Water District routinely samples the public drinking water for detections of lead, and we are proud to report that our water surpasses all established water quality standards. Robust water quality sampling and testing have delivered results of non-detect to 2.7 parts per billion, well below the MCL of 15 parts per billion.

Water being delivered to our residents' homes does NOT contain elevated levels of lead. If the drinking water in your home has elevated levels of lead, it is due to the presence of a lead service line or other lead-based pipes, joints or fixtures in your home's plumbing system. Decades ago, lead was a common material used in residential plumbing and fixtures. Older homes have a higher likelihood for the presence of lead-based materials.