County outlines lead-and-copper service-line testing outreach for ~5,000 water customers

County staff described plans to comply with EPA and Maryland Department of the Environment rules requiring identification of water-service-line materials for county customers. A staff speaker summarized the county’s approach: “Any county water customer, we need to have information about the material of their water service line,” and said that many historical as-built drawings do not show service-line material.

Staff outlined a multi-part plan: publish an online survey tying responses to account numbers and meter IDs; provide options for residents to indicate “I have no idea” (which would trigger staff assistance); allow customers who know the material to upload photos; and use GIS and county records to target likely problem areas. The county said it will offer appointments for staff verification rather than rely solely on phone calls or a mass mailing that might overwhelm staff.

Officials acknowledged the scale: roughly 5,000 county water customers and significant data gaps in older records. Staff said they have reviewed 50-plus years of water contracts and building permits and plan to focus follow-up outreach on areas identified as higher risk by those records and permitting timelines.

County staff also noted options used by other localities — including limited use of modeling or AI to extrapolate likely materials — but emphasized in-person verification where necessary. Officials said the effort will be a long process and promised updates as data arrive.

The transcript records staff describing this as a large public-outreach effort rather than a regulatory penalty action; it lays out how the county will ask for information and then direct follow-up to manage calls and verifications.