RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond residents may receive a letter from the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) notifying them that their water service line material is unknown, contains lead or is galvanized. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the DPU began to send more than 85,000 letters to Richmond residents to notify the persons served at properties where the service line material is unknown, confirmed to have lead or galvanized. According to officials, the letters come after the DPU met the Oct. 16 deadline to submit an inventory map that identifies the material of water service lines to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). According to the DPU, the deadline is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which also requires the City to notify the persons within 30 days of the map submittal if their service line material is unknown, contains lead or is galvanized. The DPU said the interactive map has been available to the public since March of this year and identifies what is known about the material of the service lines that deliver drinking water to homes and businesses. The City has been building the map for the past two years, primarily using information obtained from city records. However, customer action is needed to help in this identification process by completing an online survey that requests information on the customer-owned, water service line material. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Richmond working to replace lead pipes by federal deadline According to the DPU, the information provided through the survey will aid in the development of a long-term lead replacement plan, which will define the effort needed to meet the EPA's regulations requiring that all lead pipes be replaced within 10 years. “The Department of Public Utilities takes its mission to provide safe, clean and reliable drinking water to its customers very seriously. We play a critical role in ensuring the public health of our community is always foremost and eliminating lead service lines is part of our mission work,” said April Bingham, DPU senior director. According to the DPU, Richmond's drinking water has always met and usually exceeds standards set by the EPA and VDH. The DPU said it continuously monitors the safety of its drinking water with continuous testing for numerous substances. The results of these tests are shared with VDH monthly and published annually in the City's Consumer Confidence Report, according to officials. According to the DPU, Richmond's drinking water does not contain lead when it leaves the treatment plant, and instances of lead in water can occur from water service lines made of lead as well as internal plumbing materials. Officials said the City will continue work to eliminate the risk of lead from drinking water. For more information on lead in water or the Lead Free Water Program, visit the City's website or call 804-646-8600.