The City of Ocala Water Resources Department is committed to protecting the health of every household in our community by ensuring its customers receive clean and safe drinking water.

Lead and Copper Rule

In 1991, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water which is also known as the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). In 2021, the EPA released the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) that impact all water utilities systems throughout the United States regarding the notification of known or potential service lines containing lead that are outlined in 40 CFR § 141.85(e).

Service Line Inventory

Under the LCRR all water utility systems are required to prepare an inventory list of all the water service line material which includes the city-owned portion (city’s responsibility) and customer-owned portion (homeowner’s responsibility).  In 1989, the State of Florida banned the use of lead material in water systems. Homes and other structures built before 1989 may still have lead service lines and/or internal plumbing and fixtures with lead. If the customer-owned portion of the service line has been updated please contact us at 352-351-6775,  water@ocalafl.gov or click below and we will update our records. Notification of unknown or potential service line containing lead will be mailed on an annual basis until the entire service connection is no longer lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown.

Click to view inventory list 

Click to take the survey to update your property.

Learn what your service line material is.

Contact a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead, galvanized, or other materials that falls under homeowner’s responsibility. Protect Your Tap: A quick check for lead is EPA’s on-line step by step guide to learn how to find lead pipes in your home. Click Identifying Service Line Material - LSLR Collaborative to identify your service line material.

Have your water tested. You may contact a certified laboratory to have your water tested for lead. For a list of state-certified laboratories please visit: Laboratories Certified Under NELAP by the Florida Department of Health - NELAP Certified Laboratories Homepage | Sheet - Qlik Sense or click this list of state-certified laboratories in the area.

For information about potential financing solutions to assist property owners with replacement of lead service lines, please contact the City of Ocala’s Community Development Services at 352-629-8322 or CityGrants@Ocalafl.gov 

For more information on reducing lead exposure from your drinking water and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/lead.

Want to learn more about lead in your drinking water?

Visit the websites below:

• About the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Florida Department of Health
• Source & Drinking Water Program | Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• About Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | CDC
• Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water | US EPA
• Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water | US EPA
• Learn about Lead | US EPA
• https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#getinto.

Hotlines

• National Lead Information Center: 800-424-LEAD
• EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791

Contact the Water Resources Department for More Information.

If you have information that could help us better describe your service line, contact us at 352-351-6775 or  water@ocalafl.gov, and we will update our records.