AGAWAM, Mass (WWLP) - A number of homeowners are expressing concern after receiving a letter in the mail regarding their drinking water. The Agawam Department of Public Works said the Environmental Protection Agency required cities and towns to report service line materials for every address, and this is why the letters were sent. Local schools see increase in respiratory illnesses "Nobody needs to panic, this is not a new issue. It is not like all of the sudden the water is not good. That is not the case at all" said Mario Mazza, the Superintendent with Agawam's Department of Public Works. Residents across multiple towns in Western Massachusetts received letters in the mail saying "Your home is served by a service line that may contain lead." Mazza said the Environmental Protection Agency is collecting data. "They changed the lead and copper rules and they require all cities and towns to go through their system and identify lead service lines by this October," said Mazza. Back in the spring and early summer, Agawam contacted residents to let them know of the process, and there were three different ways to gather information. The DPW either had good records of the home and which service line was installed, the resident self certified their service line to identify the material, or they scheduled an appointment with the contractor the DPW hired to check homes. The problem is impacting specific certain service lines that connect your home to the water main. So, if you received one of those letters, there's information on what should you do to stay safe while still using water in your home. "They say run your water until it gets cold, so that 30 seconds to a minute and that is also good because it lushes out things like lead because it is the stale water that really develops a risk of lead, not the flowing water so that's the easy one that people can do at very little cost," said Mazza. So far, no lead service lines have been found in Agawam. Other cities, including West Springfield and Chicopee, have sent out letters as well. If you don't know what your service line is made of, you can call your local department of public works and make an appointment for them to come out and check it for you.