LEESBURG, Ga (WALB) - Leesburg will require some homeowners to replace aging water pipes. Neighbors received letters in the mail stating that a federal inventory identified pipes posing a potential lead contact risk.

In 2024, the city completed an inventory of water service lines within its system-- a mandate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During their inspection, they identified homes with galvanized iron or steel material. The formal letter lists these homes as “Galvanized Requiring Replacement.”

While galvanized pipes are not made of lead, the EPA determined they must be replaced if there is a possibility they were once connected to lead service lines. The city said its history records are “limited”; therefore, Leesburg is required to classify some galvanized lines as having “lead contact unknown,” even when no pipe has been found.

“We test for lead in our drinking water system every three years as mandated by EPA,” Russ Ferguson, Director of Utilities and Development, said. “In the history of our lead testing, we’ve never even come close to EPA’s action level as far as lead content in their drinking water.”

The city owns the portion of the service line from the water main to the meter. The letter suggests property owners will be responsible for the line running from the meter to their home. Alex Johnson from Septic Solutions Plumbing said the process is straightforward.

“Not very invasive at all. Just cutting and trenching the yard, you’ll have a little bit of damage to the yard, which will heal up in no time,” Johnson said. “The only thing that I could see where a big issue would come about is, does it cross the driveway or sidewalks or any other structure that may be in the way.”

City officials said they are developing a funding option to replace the city-owned portion and assist homeowners; it is expected to be finalized by 2027.

The letter states these lines must be replaced by 2037.

Overall, experts advise not to worry.

“Don’t let it feel like you’re in any kind of immediate danger,” Bentley Griffin, from Metro Power Plumbing, said. “It’s more of just a preventative measure from the city to try to get us up to standard beforehand.”

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