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Lead Free Holly Springs
The water that Holly Springs distributes is free of lead and safe to drink according to State and Federal regulations.
Holly Springs has over 18,000 water service lines in the distribution system. A recently completed Lead Service Line Inventory found all public and private water service lines in the Town to be made of non-lead materials. Thank you to our Holly Springs residents for helping complete this inventory.
Lead and Copper Compliance Program Overview
In 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Lead and Copper Rule to monitor exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. In 2021, the EPA revised the Lead and Copper Rule. The revisions require providers to determine the pipe materials in the system and create an inventory of any lead service lines.
Lead may be present in drinking water when exposed to water service lines that contain lead materials, such as lead pipes or copper pipes with lead solder. North Carolina Plumbing Code banned the use of lead solder in water service lines in 1985 and the use of lead pipe in 1987.
Fortunately, most of Holly Springs’ infrastructure is less than 20 years old and includes more modern, non-lead water service line materials. Holly Springs has been monitoring the Town’s drinking water for lead and copper since 1991 and has always met EPA standards. More information can be found in the Town’s annual Water Quality Report.
Holly Springs values the health and safety of our community and takes pride in distributing clean and safe drinking water.
Lead Service Line Inventory Map
Help Holly Springs Update Its Records
North Carolina Plumbing Code banned the use of lead pipes in 1987. Any structures built after 1987 should have non-lead plumbing materials. If the information shown on the above map is missing or incorrect, complete an online form to request the Town to inspect your service line and determine its material or to let the Town know what type of service line you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click an arrow to view answers to frequently asked questions.
The water that Holly Springs distributes is free of lead and safe to drink according to State and Federal regulations.
Lead can be found in many places, including air, soil, and water, and exposure can occur from sources such as paint, dust, gasoline, batteries, food, or plumbing.
Water is lead-free when it flows through large underground public water mains. Clean water can encounter lead in smaller water service lines and building plumbing in your home.
If lead is present in water service lines, it may seep into the water when it sits without being used for many hours, such as overnight. The best way to stop lead from getting into your drinking water is to replace any water service lines that contain lead materials.
A water service line is the section of pipe that connects a building to the Town’s water main. The public portion of the service line is located between the Town’s water main and the water meter, and the private portion is located on the property between the water meter and the building.
Holly Springs owns the public water service line that travels from the water main through the water meter in the meter box, typically located at the property line. The property owner owns the private water service line that travels from the water meter to the building.
You can find your water service line by locating the water meter, which measures the amount of water going into your building. The lid to the water meter should be above ground and visible. Your water service line will be buried underground between the meter box and your building.
Your water service line is also typically visible in the garage, basement, crawl space, or utility closet.
Lead pipe was often used for water service lines until 1960 and was used in plumbing solder until 1987, when it was banned.
Holly Springs’ water distribution system was established in 1965 after the use of lead pipes diminished. No water mains or public water service lines are made of lead in Holly Springs’ water system.
Town staff identified buildings constructed before the lead ban in 1987. Staff have been working with property owners to identify plumbing materials used on the private side of the water service lines.
The initial Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI), submitted to the State of North Carolina in October 2024, found that the Town of Holly Springs’ distribution system has no lead service lines or galvanized requiring replacement service lines. Staff carefully examined current and previous versions of the Town’s Code of Ordinance, North Carolina Plumbing Code, construction permits and records, Engineering Design & Construction Standards, Lead and Copper test results, customer surveys, and maps to identify water service line materials and dates of construction. Field identification methods were used to determine the material for water service lines built prior to 1988. Access to a digital copy of the completed LSLI is available upon request.
To date, no lead materials have been found in private water service lines. If your private water service line or building plumbing is determined to have lead materials, you can protect yourself and minimize lead exposure by following EPA guidelines. Please follow the EPA recommendations while Holly Springs staff assess the final requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. As information about lead service line replacement options becomes available, staff will continue to share options.
Call 311 or (919) 577-3111 if outside Town limits or email LCRRresults@hollyspringsnc.gov.