Lead Service Line Inspections
Pipe Type Inspections
Working Together to Protect Your Health
SWBNO is inspecting water service lines because New Orleans deserves a lead-free water system. As part of our Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program, these inspections will help us know the material your water line is made of and if it needs replacement. We need your help with this major public health initiative.
Action Needed
Property owners must complete a Right of Entry (ROE) form for SWBNO to complete a small dig pipe check on your private service line. Learn more below.
Complete Your ROE FormWhy We’re Inspecting
A water service line connects your property to the public water system. That service line is a shared responsibility. SWBNO owns the public part of service lines. Property owners own the part on their property.
Many service lines in our city were installed decades ago, and complete records are not always available. Inspections help SWBNO better understand the materials used throughout the system and improve the accuracy of our service line inventory.
By identifying service line materials today, we can better plan to replace all lead service lines in the future.
What To Expect During Your Inspection
Property owners will receive advance notice before inspection activities begin.
There are two types of inspections our crews may conduct:
Pipe Type Check
This involves locating a portion of the service line above ground (where it connects to your building) and scratching the pipe to see the material it is made of.
- This does not require a Right of Entry form.
- This is a non-invasive test to identify pipe materials.
- Takes less than five minutes.
- No-dig tests are the first layer of inspection. Since pipe materials can change underground, additional inspections may be needed after a no-dig test to confirm the material of the entire service line.
Small Dig Pipe Check
This is a more extensive inspection that requires some digging to access the pipe underground and identify the material.
- This type of inspection requires a Right of Entry form.
- Allows for more conclusive results about the entire pipe material.
- Crews will typically dig an area no larger than 2 ft × 2 ft × 2 ft.
- Takes about one to two hours. Residents do not need to be home.
- SWBNO will return the site to its original condition or as close as possible after completing the work.
Your Health. Our Shared Responsibility.
The private side of a service line is the property owner’s responsibility, but our focus on your health does not stop at a property line.
SWBNO wants to replace all service lines, even those not owned by us, to protect public health. To do that, we need your permission to complete work on private property.
Complete Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form
Property owners must complete a Right of Entry (ROE) form for SWBNO to complete a small dig pipe check of your private service line. This form gives SWBNO and its contractors permission to access your property to complete the inspection.
ROE forms must be signed by the property owner. If you are a renter, please send the ROE form to your landlord. We appreciate your partnership as we continue toward our shared goal: remove lead pipes from New Orleans’ water system.
How to Complete Your ROE
Property owners can complete the ROE two ways.
- Complete the form online. Open the online ROE form
- Download a printable version to complete and return by mail or email.
Download Printable Form: Right of Entry Form PDF
Submission Instructions: Email a signed copy to LSLR@swbno.org or return it by mail to:
CDM Smith
1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1750
New Orleans, LA 70112
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my service line is found to be made of lead?
The first step is to complete a Right of Entry form to allow SWBNO to plan your lead service line replacement. Once we have your completed form, we will work with our contractors to schedule your replacement. This may take months, and in some cases up to a year. This is because we will be completing replacements in a phased approach to be most efficient with our resources.
Creating a lead-free water system in Orleans Parish is a major undertaking that will take time, and we appreciate you joining us in this major public health initiative.
There are actions customers can take now to limit their potential exposure to lead through drinking water.
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula.
- When water hasn’t been used for six hours or longer, run the faucet for three to five minutes to flush the lines before drinking or cooking with the water. Household tasks like showering or running the dishwasher can also help flush the system.
- Request a lead test kit by contacting SWBNO’s Lab by calling 52-WATER or use our online request form.
- Use a filter that meets NSF Standard 53 as a recommended practice to help protect you and your family. Request to pick up a water pitcher that filters for lead by calling 52-WATER or use our online request form.
- Review the latest SWBNO Consumer Confidence Report PDF for more ideas.
Why is SWBNO inspecting my property?
SWBNO is conducting pipe type inspections as part of its Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program. Inspections help identify service line materials so SWBNO can replace lead service lines.
Do I need to be home during pipe type inspections?
No. Residents do not need to be home during pipe type inspections. That includes both pipe type checks and small dig pipe checks.
How long will the small dig pipe check take?
Most small dig pipe checks take about one to two hours.
Will my property be restored after the small dig pipe check?
Yes, if our crews need to dig as part of a small dig pipe check, SWBNO will return the site to its original condition or as close as possible, on the same day.
Why do I need to complete a Right of Entry (ROE) form?
Our goal is to identify the type of pipe you have on the private side of your water service line. Small dig pipe inspections on private property require written permission from the property owner in the form of a Right of Entry (ROE) form. A completed ROE is needed before small dig pipe checks can occur on private property.
What is the Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLR)?
The Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLR) is SWBNO’s long-term effort to identify and replace lead service lines throughout Orleans Parish.
A service line is the pipe that connects a property to the public water main line. In older cities like New Orleans, some service lines were installed before the harmful effects of lead were fully understood.
Federal regulations now require water systems to identify service line materials and replace lead service lines. Building a complete inventory of service line materials is the critical first step in identifying where replacement is needed and protecting public health.
This work will happen in phases over several years, beginning in areas that are most likely to have lead and galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) service lines.
Why do you need to replace my private service line?
Public health does not stop at property lines.
Lead can enter drinking water from lead pipes, which can be present on either the public or private part of a service line. Replacing only part of a lead service line does not fully eliminate the source of lead exposure. EPA guidance supports full replacement of lead service lines wherever possible because it provides the greatest long-term public health benefit.
By replacing both public- and private-side lead service lines, SWBNO can better protect residents and move New Orleans closer to a lead-free water system.
