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Environmental Health Division
Lead Service Line Inventory Guidelines
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require public water systems to complete an inventory of all service connections in their distribution system.
In order to maintain compliance, MDH is requesting that all inventories are submitted by August 15, 2024 to meet the EPA deadline of October 16, 2024.
The information on this page is intended to assist Community Water Systems with the inventory requirements.
For assistance please visit Service Line Inventory Assistance Office Hours Signup.
Organizing the inventory data
Details regarding the inventory requirements can be found in the MDH Quick Reference Guide for Lead Service Line Inventories (PDF).
Inventory information can be organized using either GIS or the MDH Inventory Template Spreadsheet.
The inventory process requires systems to identify both the public and private portions of the service line. Many systems have split ownership of the service line (example: system owns from main to curb stop and resident owns from curb stop to house).
EPA and MDH have provided a table to assist systems with determining the classification for the entire service line based on the system owned and customer owned portions. That information can be found here at Service Line Classification Determination: Systems with Shared Ownership (PDF).
Using GIS for inventory
Some systems are using GIS to track service line inventory information.
Systems should follow the GIS Tracking of Service Line Inventory Information (PDF).
Systems submitting data using GIS also need to complete Service Line Inventory Submittal Contact Information (PDF).
The completed document should be submitted to MDH at Health.LSLinventory@state.mn.us when the GIS data is provided to MDH and the University of Minnesota.
Which inventory template spreadsheet should I use?
The first step is to determine whether the system has single ownership or split ownership of the service lines.
- Single ownership means that the service line is owned entirely by either the public water system or the property owner. There is no shared responsibility for the service line.
- Split ownership means that the service line is owned jointly by both the public water system and the property owner (example: system owns from main to curb stop and property owner owns from curb stop to house). Responsibility for the service line is shared.
The second step is to determine whether to use the simple or detailed version. It may be more useful to the system while conducting their inventory to gather additional or more detailed information than required and we have provided a simple spreadsheet with required information needed for compliance and a detailed spreadsheet with information we recommend water systems complete and keep on hand to be prepared for customer questions, asset management, or future rule revisions.
Templates and instructions are included below.
Single-Simple Instructions (PDF)
Single-Detailed Instructions(PDF)
Single-Detailed Template (Excel)
Split-Simple Instructions (PDF)
Split-Detailed Instructions (PDF)
Split-Detailed Template (Excel)
Submitting the inventory
Submit the completed inventory template spreadsheet via email to Health.LSLinventory@state.mn.us.
Some files may be too large to email. If the file is too large to send via email, please attach and submit the file at Submit Service Line Inventory.
This website can accept files up to 15 Gb. The form requires the user to enter the email address, name of the public water supply, and any comments. The Box system will automatically notify MDH and UMN staff when the file is uploaded.
Public notification requirements (Due Nov. 15, 2024)
MDH staff will review the submitted inventory for completeness and send you templates for completing the Notice of Accessibility and Service Line Material Notifications and a Certification Form. Details describing how to distribute the notice, timeframe, and certification will be contained within the correspondence. The inventory must be reviewed and deemed complete before you conduct the required notices for compliance. The 30-day timeline for completion will not start until MDH notifies the system that the inventory is complete and is due November 15, 2024.
- Service Line Inventory Notifications: Instructions Part 1 (PDF)
- Service Line Inventory Notifications: Instructions Part 2 (PDF)
- Service Line Inventory Notifications: Certification Form (PDF)
- Service Line Inventory Notifications: Letter Templates (Word)
After the inventory
The inventory that’s being submitted in 2024 is just the initial inventory that’s required by EPA. The inventories will be updated in the future.
After MDH has reviewed the inventory information, MDH will share the data with the University of Minnesota for publication on the Lead Inventory Tracking Tool (LITT).
LITT is an online map which allows residents to search by their address to determine if they have a lead service line.
Do You Have a Lead Service Line?
Additional information
EPA: Guidance for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory (PDF)
Questions regarding the lead service line inventory can be submitted to MDH at Health.LSLinventory@state.mn.us.
For additional information regarding MDH’s implementation of the LCRR, please visit Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.