Identifying Service Line Materials without Excavation: Distinguishing LSLs from Non-LSLs

Many drinking water utilities are conducting lead service line replacements to safeguard public health. However, lead service lines (LSLs) cannot be replaced until their locations are identified. There is a need for commercially available rapid, user-friendly, and cost-effective technologies to accurately identify LSLs without excavation.

This project tested three innovative and non-invasive detection platforms (acoustic monitoring, x-ray diffraction/fluorescence, and stress wave propagation/attenuation) to perform buried service line characterization in blind trials using a pipe farm testing facility, followed by field testing in collaboration with six water utilities.