What Do I Need To Know About Lead And Water?

Recent news reports have brought lead issues to the attention of water customers. Bremerton‘s water sources are lead free and the system complies with all drinking water regulations. Other important points:
  • Water sources in Bremerton do not contain detectable levels of lead.
  • The City of Bremerton Water Utility fully complies with federal Lead and Copper Rule regulations.
  • There are no known lead service lines in Bremerton’s water system.
  • Corrosion control treatment has been in place since 1999 which reduces leaching of lead into the water.
  • Bremerton School District has tested schools for lead in drinking water since the mid-1990s and only one faucet with elevated levels was found and addressed in 2004. Testing continues and any issues will be addressed should they arise.

More information is available in the Lead and Water fact sheet.

Questions about components installed by area water systems in the early 1900s have prompted special monitoring and investigation beyond the regulations. Occasionally we encounter lead goosenecks – a short piece of pipe that connects the service line to the main. Please see the the information below and the fact sheet Lead Goosenecks for more information.

Does Your Home Have A Lead Gooseneck?

Prior to the late 1940s, short pieces of lead pipe (about 16” long) were sometimes used to connect the water main to customers’ service lines. These pipe segments of often took the shape of a goose’s neck, and are referred to as “lead goosenecks.” Below are a photo of a lead gooseneck and a diagram of where they are located on the service line.

Over time, the Bremerton Water utility has removed hundreds of lead goosenecks while upgrading the water system and continues to replace them when they are found. Although we believe we have removed the vast majority of these lead goosenecks, there still may be several hundred older service connections for which we do not have information. When these lines were installed, details of where lead goosenecks were used were not usually recorded. Because goosenecks are underground, usually under the street, they are difficult to verify. We are continuing to review paper records going back over 80 years, as well as our electronic records and field checks, to update our files about possible locations of lead goosenecks.



Search For Lead Goosenecks

To find out if your home may have a lead gooseneck, enter your address in the box below and our current information about your water service line will be provided. In the case of water services installed before the 1950s, the City has to rely on historical records, the accuracy of which cannot be guaranteed. The information is true to the best of the City's knowledge.

There are three possible answers:

  1. We have documentation for most water service connections that there is no lead gooseneck. In that case, there is nothing more you need to do.
  2. If we have documentation that your service line from the meter to the water main is galvanized and may have a lead gooseneck, you will be provided additional information.
  3. If we do not yet have specific information about your service line it will be unknown whether there is a possibility of a lead gooseneck. You can call us and we can review our records in more detail.


Contact Us

City of Bremerton
Public Works & Utilities

100 Oyster Bay Avenue
Bremerton, WA 98312
P:(360) 473-5920
E: Bremerton1@ci.bremerton.wa.us
W: www.BremertonWA.gov