Aqua to notify residents about service lines

TIFFIN — Residents should be on the lookout for mail from Aqua Ohio. The business is working with regulatory agencies to notify customers in the Tiffin area if they have service lines made of lead, galvanized steel or unknown materials. Those with service lines made of "other non-lead bearing materials" will not receive notification. "Aqua's mission is to deliver safe, reliable water service," said Scott Ballenger, area manager of Aqua's Tiffin Division, in a press release. "We're working with the EPA to identify lead lines. Once they've been identified, we'll work with property owners to replace those lines." Research has linked lead with serious health complications, especially in young children. In Ohio, lead service lines have been prohibited for use in plumbing since 1988. Homes built earlier could still have lead service lines. Notification letters are being sent for "informational" and "regulatory" purposes and will provide tips to limit exposure to lead. Letters will also inform customers that "Aqua is working to identify unknown service line materials and replace those made of lead or galvanized steels at no direct cost." "Aqua takes steps to prevent lead from leaching into the water they distribute and conducts routine tests to confirm that lead levels remain below actionable levels," the release concluded. "Nonetheless, Aqua is working with the Ohio EPA and USEPA to eliminate lead lines."