BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Property owners in Ogdensburg are being asked to help create an inventory of the city’s water lines and to determine what types of pipes are being used by property owners.

The goal is to meet federal regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.

In a press release issued Wednesday City Manager Fonda Chronis said the City of Ogdensburg will be conducting surveys to comply with federal regulations that require all public water systems to inventory water service lines and identify their material composition.

"The City is asking homeowners and business owners to cooperate by completing a short survey and submitting pictures of their water service lines," the release says.

“Building owners will receive a form in the mail with detailed instructions on how to fill it out and return it to the city. We hope homeowners will assist us in identifying the type of piping used for their water service. We understand this may be inconvenient for some, but it is crucial for determining the presence of lead service lines.”

These forms are expected to be mailed out on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

More information on this federal requirement can be found at the following link: EPA Inventory Guidance.

To complete the survey Ogdensburg residents will need more than just a pen.

Fonda said residents will need a flathead screwdriver and a refrigerator magnet. They will then need to perform the following steps. A camera will also be required.

1. Locate the water service line coming into the building.
2. Identify a test area on the pipe between the point where it comes into the building and the inlet valve.
3. Expose a small area of the pipe.
4. Use the flat edge of a screwdriver or other tool to scratch through any corrosion that may have built up on the outside of the pipe.
5. Place the magnet onto the pipe surface to see if it sticks.
6. Take a photo of the scratched area and magnet if it sticks and include it with the form upon return.

Pipe Classifications

Lead: If the scraped area is shiny and silver, your service line is lead. A magnet will not stick to a lead pipe.

Copper: If the scrap.ed area is copper in color, like a penny, your service line is copper. A magnet will not stick to a copper pipe.

Galvanized: If the scraped area remains a duU gray, and a magnet sticks to the surface, your service line is galvanized steel.

Plastic: Will not have metallic properties and will scratch easily.