Water Districts to Inspect Service Lines for Lead

Inspections to begin in mid-February for over 3,600 customers with unknown pipe materials

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The East Central Regional Water District and Agassiz Water Users District in North Dakota are partnering with an engineering firm to conduct door-to-door inspections of water service lines for over 3,600 customers with unknown pipe materials. The inspections are part of a state and federal initiative to identify and remove lead from drinking water pipes.

Why it matters

Lead exposure, even at low levels, can have serious health consequences, especially for children. Identifying the materials used in water service lines is a crucial first step to addressing any potential lead issues and ensuring safe drinking water for the community.

The details

The engineering firm AE2S will be visiting homes and businesses starting in mid-February to inspect service lines and determine if they are made of copper, plastic, galvanized steel or lead. Customers with unknown service line materials will be required to participate. Those who prefer can complete an online survey to self-identify their pipe materials and upload photos.

  • Inspections will begin in mid-February 2026.
  • Inspections may continue into July and August 2026.

The players

East Central Regional Water District

A local water district serving customers in North Dakota.

Agassiz Water Users District

A local water district serving customers in North Dakota.

AE2S

An engineering firm working with the water districts to conduct the service line inspections.

John Eaton

The general manager of Agassiz Water Users District.

Neil Breidenbach

The system manager of East Central Regional Water District.

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What they’re saying

“We thank everyone who previously completed the survey to help us make progress on the pipe inventory. We still have a lot of progress to make, and we need property owners' participation to ensure we have the most accurate information to provide to the state of North Dakota later this year.”

— John Eaton, General Manager, Agassiz Water Users District (News Release)

“The inspections may continue into July and August. If your service line has already been confirmed, inspectors will not need to come to your property in 2026, unless they need to confirm a lead or galvanized steel service line.”

— Neil Breidenbach, System Manager, East Central Regional Water District (News Release)

What’s next

The water districts must provide the pipe material inventory to the state of North Dakota by the end of 2026.

The takeaway

This proactive effort by the local water districts to identify and address any lead service lines is an important step in protecting public health and ensuring safe drinking water for the community. Residents' cooperation will be crucial to the success of this initiative.