Is water from the City of Sunrise Utilities Department safe to drink?

Yes! The City of Sunrise provides its 200,000+ customers with safe water to drink. View our annual water quality reports for details.

What are the health risks of lead and copper in drinking water?

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects to people of all ages; however, children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Lead exposure in children can lead to new learning and behavioral problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavioral problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

While copper is an essential nutrient, excessive exposure can cause health problems. Short-term exposure to high levels of copper can cause gastrointestinal distress, and long-term exposure can lead to liver or kidney damage.

How often is drinking water tested for lead and copper?

The EPA requires water systems to conduct lead and copper testing at a frequency determined by the size of the system and previous test results. Typically, systems must test every six months if previous samples exceeded the action levels, or every three years if previous samples were at or below the action levels.

What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to lead and copper?

For information about reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA website or contact your healthcare provider.

What is the purpose of the City’s Water Service Line Inventory Program?

The Water Service Line Inventory Program is our means of complying with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The LCRR requires that all public water systems take an inventory of all water service lines in their distribution system, primarily to identify--and subsequently to remove--lead service lines.

Will the Water Service Line Inventory Program affect my water bill?

No, the program does not impact the cost of your water service.

How can I access the City’s inventory of its water service lines?

A searchable water line inventory is available online.

How do I find out what the water service lines on my property are made of?

To determine if your home has lead or galvanized pipes, you can:

• Examine the appearance of your pipes. Lead pipes are typically dull gray, soft, and can be scratched easily with a key. Galvanized pipes have a shiny, metallic gray appearance; a strong magnet will stick to them.
• Check the age of your home. The South Florida Building Code prohibited the use of lead pipes beginning in 1975, so homes built in or after that year are not suspected to have lead pipes. Generally speaking, lead pipes are rare in homes built after 1950.
• Contact a licensed plumber to inspect your plumbing system and identify the material of your pipes.

Do all lead and galvanized water service lines need to be replaced?

All lead service water lines should be replaced. However, only galvanized service lines that are downstream of a service line of unknown material, or galvanized lines that are currently or were previously downstream of a lead service line will need to be replaced.

Am I responsible for replacing lead and galvanized water service on my property?

Yes, any out-of-compliance pipes on your property that are located downstream of/after the water meter are privately owned and should be replaced by a certified plumber using appropriate building permits.  This work would be done at the property owner's expense.

While you won't be fined if you don’t replace lead and galvanized pipe on your property, it's important to consider the health risks presented by out-of-compliance pipe.