Thurston County Customer Water Line Service Survey

This survey will help to complete an inventory of customer service lines in compliance with federal regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Find Your Water Service Line

Before completing the survey, you must determine where your water service line is and how it connects to your home. If you need help finding your service line, contact Thurston County Utilities at 360-628-4492.

Look for a water meter or curb stop valve to find where the water line enters your home. These are usually at the front of your property, close to the street or sidewalk, in ground-level boxes labeled "water" or "meter." Once you spot them, follow the shortest path to your house. The water line should enter your home through the floor or foundation wall nearby.

Test the Pipe Material

After finding where the water line enters your home, locate the part of the pipe closest to the wall or floor before it connects to a valve or meter. This is where you can test the pipe material. Identifying this pipe is important.

Use these tools to identify the type of material your water service line is made of

Magnet: A refrigerator magnet will help you check if the pipe is steel or iron.
Screwdriver or Coin: Scratch the pipe to see the metal's color and hardness and tap it to hear its sound.
Flashlight or Phone Light: Use this to see the pipe.

Pipe Material Tests

Lead

Scratch Test: If the scratched area is shiny and silver, it's lead.
Magnet Test: A magnet won't stick to lead.
Tapping Test: Tapping lead with a coin makes a dull noise.

Copper

Scratch Test: If the scratched area is copper-colored, like a penny, it's copper.
Magnet Test: A magnet won't stick to copper.
Tapping Test: Tapping copper with a coin makes a metallic ringing sound.

Galvanized Steel or Iron

Scratch Test: If the scratched area stays dull gray, it's galvanized steel.
Magnet Test: A magnet will stick to galvanized steel.
Tapping Test: Tapping galvanized steel with a coin makes a metallic ringing sound.

Plastic

Visual and Sound Test: Plastic pipes come in different colors and won't ring when tapped.

Customer Name *

Email Address

Service Street Address *

City *

Zip Code *

Do you own or rent this building? *

What year was the building built? *

To your knowledge, has the water service line for your building ever been replaced? *

Yes

Not sure

What year was it replaced?

What material is your water service line? You may choose more than one. *

How did you determine the material? Chose one. *

Scratch test

Visual

Plumber or other qualified professional

Cannot locate service line

Thank you for completing the survey. If you have further questions or need help with locating your water service line, please contact aaron.tormanen@co.thurston.wa.us.

Find more resources at EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions webpage: Lead Service Line Inventory - EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions webpage.

Thurston County Water & Sewer Utilities web page