Arkansas Department of Health

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Helpful Definitions for Community Water Systems

Lead and Copper Rule

LEAD SERVICE LINE: A service line made of lead which connects the water main to the building inlet and/or any lead pigtail, gooseneck, or other fitting which is connected to the service line.

MATERIALS SURVEY: Refers to a system’s initial evaluation of materials that are contained in its pipes and distribution system in order to identify sites with a high risk of lead occurrence.

REPRESENTATIVE SITE: A sampling site that is connected by plumbing materials that are similar to materials used at other sites in the water system.

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES: A building constructed to allow occupancy of a single family. Apartment complexes and duplexes are not considered single family residences.

SOLDER:  A metallic compound used to seal joints in plumbing.  Until the lead ban took effect (approx. 1986) most solder contained about 50 percent lead.

TIER 1 SITE: A single family residence that contains lead pipes, or copper pipes with lead solder installed after 1982, or is served by a lead service line.

TIER 2 SITE: A building or multi-family residence (duplex or apartment) that contains lead pipes, or copper pipes with lead solder installed after 1982, or is served by a lead service line.

TIER 3 SITE: A single-family residence that contains copper pipes with lead solder installed before 1983.

TIER 4: Refers to those residences or buildings that do not fit into any of the above categories. These are typically homes with copper pipe without lead solder, PVC or galvanized steel plumbing.

****NOTE: If you do not have enough Tier 1, 2, or 3 sites, you must use representative sites to meet minimum sampling requirements. A site is representative if its plumbing is similar to that of other sites in your system.

ALL FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED USING BLUE OR BLACK INK. FORMS THAT ARE DETERMINED TO BE INCOMPLETE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE OPERATOR.

THE RESEARCHED FORM MUST BE SIGNED BY THE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMING THE MATERIALS SURVEY.