The American Water Works Association announced this week the release of a new standard to assist communities in managing lead pipe risks.

Developed by AWWA’s standards subcommittee on lead service lines and approved by the American National Standards Institute, the standard, C810-17: Replacement and Flushing of Lead Service Lines, provides guidance for water utilities that are currently undertaking or considering replacement of lead service lines. Techniques for locating lead service lines are outlined, along with flushing, testing and verification methods after replacement is complete. There is also a section on how to effectively communicate to the community about planned lead service line replacement projects.

The standard is available in the AWWA Store.

AWWA’s first Lead Service Line Management Policy Statement, adopted in January, encourages communities to develop lead reduction strategies that include identifying and removing all lead service lines over time. AWWA is a founding member of the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative, which assists communities in accelerating the removal of lead service lines.

AWWA has many resources available through its web-based Lead Resource Community including information on the Lead and Copper Rule, corrosion control, lead communications, and other lead management issues.