Frequently Asked Questions

Is my water safe?

Bartow prioritizes clean drinking water to all its residents. The City does not have lead in its drinking water supply or water distribution mains and uses corrosion control at the water treatment plant to help prevent corrosion in pipes and plumbing. Bartow’s water has met or surpassed all federal and state water quality standards as documented in our 2023 annual water quality report.

How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with home plumbing and service lines delivering water from the City water main to home or building. The City of Bartow is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

What is a water service line?

A water service line is an underground pipe that connects homes to the City’s public water main to provide drinking water.

How do I know what my service line material is?

The City of Bartow has identified the material of over 6,000 service lines within the City and has created an online map that shows the material for each service line. Customers with service lines identified as either lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown material will receive a notice with more information.

Do all galvanized service lines need to be replaced?

No. EPA only requires that any galvanized service lines that are or was ever downstream of a lead service line must be identified for replacement. If the service at your home is listed as galvanized requiring replacement, it means that the City of Bartow found a galvanized service line and cannot confirm that your galvanized service line was never downstream of a lead service line. The EPA has determined that there is a risk for these steel lines to have absorbed lead and potentially leach lead back into the water supply.

What if my service line material at my home is listed as an unknown material?

The City of Bartow has already identified over the material of over 6,000 service lines and conducted over 3,000 field inspections. The City is actively working to identify all remaining service lines within the City’s service area.

How can I reduce my exposure to lead if I have a lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown material service line?

The City of Bartow uses a corrosion control program to help prevent corrosion to help prevent lead from entering your drinking water. If your service line is identified as either lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or an unknown material, you can use the following recommendations from EPA to reduce your exposure to lead:

Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, make sure you use a filter certified to remove lead. Read the directions to learn how to properly install and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter.
Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
Use cold water. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Remember, boiling water does not remove lead from water.
Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, and the length of the lead service line. Residents should contact their water utility for recommendations about flushing times in their community.
Learn about construction in your neighborhood. If you have a lead service line, you should be aware of any nearby construction or maintenance work that could disturb the line. Ground tremors from construction may suddenly cause more lead to be released from a lead service lines in the area.

Will my service line be replaced?

The City of Bartow created a service line replacement plan that includes procedures and strategies for conducting service line replacements. Replacement is only necessary if the service line was identified as either lead or galvanized requiring replacement. The City is not required to bear the cost of replacement of the private-side portion of service lines because it is not owned by the City.