Learn to Locate and Identify Your Water Service Line Video

Please Note: This video has closed captioning. To enable, click on the video and then click CC.

Step By Step Instructions

Locate

Look for where your water service enters your property. Most services enter through the lowest level of your property, up through the basement floor, or low along the foundation wall. Your water service will always be connected to the District’s water meter.

Your service may also be located in a crawl space or utility closet. Again, look for the District’s water meter.

Identify Your Service

Once you have located your water service, you will need to determine your water service pipe material.

You will need two items to help you identify your service material:

Magnet
Key, Coin, or Flathead Screwdriver

Follow These Steps to Identify Your Service:

Start by testing your service line with the magnet. If the magnet sticks to the pipe, it is likely galvanized iron. To confirm it is galvanized iron, use your key, coin, or flathead screwdriver to scratch through any corrosion that may have built up on the outside of the pipe. DO NOT use a sharp object to perform the scratch test, and be careful not to puncture a hole in the pipe.
If the pipe is black, blue, or white with lettering along the length of the pipe, it is most likely plastic. Plastic will not scratch easily and will not be magnetic.
Copper is identifiable by its color, usually dull, oxidized green, or brown, and will shine like a new penny when scratched. Copper is not magnetic.
Lead pipe is very soft and will be easily scratched. If the scratching reveals a soft, dull, silver-gray color, and the pipe is not magnetic, it is likely lead.