The City of Goshen has successfully met the Water Service Line Inventory requirements set by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after conducting an extensive campaign to determine the material of water service lines citywide.
While Goshen’s century-old water system lacked precise records in the early days, the City worked diligently as far back as 2016 to inventory the material of all water service lines to comply with state and federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements. The City’s Engineering Department, in partnership with the Water and Sewer Department, has used utility records, home visits, self-reporting, and online surveys to determine the material of over 50% of Goshen’s service lines—serving more than 6,000 households.
To establish piping materials for the remaining service lines, the City teamed up with Abonmarche Consultants to perform pothole excavations at 400 representative locations, allowing crews to visually inspect both sides of the shut-off valve. Through this coordinated effort, and the assistance of BlueConduit’s industry-leading predictive analytics, the team will be able to assign a material probability to each unidentified service line with 95% confidence. The City submitted its comprehensive inventory to state agencies earlier this week, ahead of the October 16th deadline.
Proactive safety measures for City of Goshen residents
Long-serving Water and Sewer utility staff confirmed that while older sections of the City contain galvanized water service lines connected by small “goosenecks” — short, flexible lead pipe sections measuring 2 feet or less—they have never found full-length lead pipes that are common in other communities. Currently, goosenecks are not required to be replaced due to their minimal length and lesser impact on water systems.
To protect residents, the City regularly conducts targeted sampling of at-risk homes and has consistently found lead levels in drinking water below thresholds set by the EPA and IDEM. Although the risk of lead exposure remains low based on current testing, Goshen’s Water Utility continues to work on reducing any potential risks by updating its infrastructure.
A team effort for compliance
Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty praised City staff for their forward thinking and dedication, not only in meeting the EPA inventory deadline but also in protecting the health of Goshen residents.
“This has been a considerable and widespread undertaking by our water, utilities, and engineering personnel to ensure the federal deadline is met, our water service lines are safe, and our neighbors are informed,” Leichty said. “The EPA provided us with an aggressive and comprehensive timeline, and our staff and partners rose to the challenge.”
The City is also replacing goosenecks and galvanized steel service lines discovered during Public Works projects, such as road reconstructions or water main upgrades. As the inventory of service line materials progresses, City staff will use this information to make informed decisions on future infrastructure projects that maximize water system benefits while responsibly managing ratepayer and taxpayer funds.
Looking ahead, Goshen Water Utility remains committed to modernizing its infrastructure and ensuring clean and safe drinking water for all residents.
Helpful Links:
Revised Lead and Copper Rule | US EPA
LEAD-SAFE GIS Interactive Map of the City of Goshen at https://leadsafe-goshenindiana.hub.arcgis.com/pages/inform, where the piping materials serving their home or any Goshen Water System customer can be found.
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Elkhart County Health Department