Background

Martin County is committed to providing our customers with high quality drinking water. Part of this commitment is complying with the rules and regulations put in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. While Martin County's water has not changed, the EPA did change its regulations, requiring all public water service providers, including Martin County Utilities, to develop an inventory of all water service line materials and make it publicly available. See below for a map of the service line inventory and supplemental information related to the new regulations.

Taking Inventory of Water Service Lines

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently revised its Lead and Copper Rule to make drinking water safer from lead contamination through these new regulations. The 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require all utility providers to complete an initial inventory of public (utility-owned) and private (customer-owned) water service line materials by October 2024.

Martin County is complying with the 2021 LCRR to update its existing water service line records. To date, the inventory shows no lead lines in the Martin County Utilities service area.

What is Martin County Doing?

In March 2023, Martin County began developing a detailed inventory to identify unknown service line materials through records, field verifications, and statistical analysis. Specialized software tracks public and private service line materials shown on the inventory map. The County will continue to ensure customers receive information on revisions and improvements to Lead and Copper Rules and share their compliance activities.

Current Inventory Map

You can use the map below to look up your address in our records and view current information. Martin County Utilities will maintain and update the inventory as new information becomes available. If we do not have specific information on the material of your service line, it will be identified on the map as "Unknown-Non Lead." Martin County Utilities has determined that our system has no lead service lines.

Having trouble finding your address? Please make sure you have entered it correctly in the search tool. If your address is not shown on the map and no instructions are provided, it means that our records show this address is not linked to a Martin County Utilities water account.

On a mobile device? We recommend using the full-screen.

Providing Quality Drinking Water

Martin County fully complies with all federal, state and industry guidelines, including those for lead and copper levels in drinking water. Water distributed by Martin County Utilities is monitored to ensure it meets all drinking water regulations. Check out Martin County’s most recent drinking water quality report.

Lead and Drinking Water in Florida

Florida banned the use of lead in water systems in January 1989. However, many service line materials are unknown and may require verification at the property line. Older homes and buildings, especially those built before January 1989, may still have a lead service line and/or internal plumbing and fixtures containing lead.

If your home was built after January 1989, you DO NOT have a lead water service line. If your home was built before January 1989, it is unlikely, but you may have a lead service line. At this time, Martin County has not found any lead service lines in our system.

FAQs

A water service line is a small diameter pipe that brings water from publicly owned water mains (larger pipes located along roadways) into homes and other buildings. Most water service lines in Florida are plastic, but a small number could be galvanized steel, copper, brass, cast iron, lead or ductile iron.

A water meter outside of a home that shows the water main, the water service line, and water meter

Martin County owns and is responsible for the service line from the water main in the street to the meter, including the meter and meter box. The property owner owns and is responsible for the service line from the meter to the plumbing inside the home.

The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is a regulation passed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991. It aims to control lead and copper levels in drinking water to safeguard children and communities at risk of lead exposure.

Since 1991, the EPA has updated the LCR multiple times. The latest revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule were released by the EPA on October 16, 2021, and water utilities are required to comply with these revisions by October 16, 2024.

The rule revisions outline actions to be taken by water providers. Some of these actions include:

  • Create a service line materials inventory of all publicly and privately owned service lines
  • Update the location and quantity of water samples utilities test each year
  • Prepare a sampling plan for schools and licensed daycares
  • Review and/or develop a corrosion control program, if necessary

At this time, Martin County has found no lead pipes in its water distribution system.

No. In 1986, the Environmental Protection Agency amended the Safe Water Drinking Act, prohibiting lead in piping material used for drinking water. Florida’s rule went into effect on January 18, 1989.

If Martin County finds a lead or galvanized pipe requiring replacement, the County will notify the property owner or customer and make recommendations for reducing lead exposure. Information will also be provided to the customer, including available water sample testing, water filters, educational materials, plans for replacement and more.

Lead can enter drinking water from the plumbing inside your building or the water service line between the street and the building. Lead may be released into the water when it sits in the service line or plumbing for hours without use. In rare cases, water can pick up lead at its source. However, water supply testing shows no lead in our water source.

Exposure to high levels of lead is a serious health risk. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can damage the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The most significant risk is to young children, pregnant women and their unborn children. Find out more information on the EPA’s website.

No, there is no safe level of lead exposure. Any amount of exposure poses health risks.

No lead has been found in Martin County Utilities' system. If you have questions about how to protect yourself and your family from lead exposure, visit the EPA’s water filter web page to learn more about water filters.

Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about lead in drinking water.

Other Resources

Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791

Environmental Protection Agency Water Resource Center: 800-832-7828

Still Have Questions?

Martin County Utilities Customer Service: Customer Service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for major holidays). Contact us at inventory@martin.fl.us or (772) 221-1434 with questions about the water service line inventory.

Utilities and Solid Waste Customer Service
3473 SE Willoughby Boulevard
Stuart, FL 34994