Buffalo Water Encourages Residents to Participate in Lead Line Removal Initiative

On the heels of National Drinking Water Week, Buffalo Water is reminding all residents to take an active role in helping ensure the safety and quality of their drinking water. This year, the focus is not only on celebrating the importance of clean water but also on taking practical steps to safeguard the water running inside each home.

One crucial initiative Buffalo Water is advancing is completing the service line inventory map, available online at getwaterwisebuffalo.org. Last year, Buffalo Water announced the early release of an interactive map that provides residents with valuable information about the materials used in service lines throughout the city. Buffalo Water proactively released the map as a tool that will help identify all homes with lead service lines so they can be removed and replaced as required by the Environ mental Protection Agency (EPA). Through color coded squares for every city address, residents can determine if their home service line material is made of lead, galvanized steel, copper or if it is unknown.

To finish the map, Buffalo Water emphasizes the importance of public participation in completing the service line survey, especially if their home or property is listed as unknown. With more than 30,000 un known service lines in the City of Buffalo, the survey is essential for Buffalo Water data collection and accurately assessing materials used in each residential service line, which can affect water quality within the home.

To access the service line inventory map and survey or become part of Buffalo Water’s Tap Sampling Pro gram, residents should visit the website: getwaterwisebuffalo.org.