Pennsylvania-American Water Company is asking customers to take an online survey to help determine if lead exists in service lines.

A news release Monday, Feb. 6, stated the statewide service line material inventory project will be used to create an online map of lead in existing service lines, which is the pipe from the main line to a home or business.

Customers whose service line material is unknown recently were sent postcards from the water company with information on how to participate in the identification effort.

Customers will be asked a handful of questions about their water service line and upload a photo if possible.

If necessary, in-home inspections or digging of test pits will be used to determine the material customers’ pipes are made of, the release said.

All contractors representing Pennsylvania-American in the field will wear a company logo and highly visible vests, and will carry official photo ID badges.

The “Pipe Up” project is a requirement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for water companies to identify and publicly map lead service lines, which for many utilities, will be the first step toward a proactive lead service line replacement program.

Pennsylvania American has replaced more than 250 lead service lines to date and plans to invest about $15 million this year to replace other ones.

The release said the company has applied to the state Public Utilities Commission for a customer-side lead service line replacement program. If approved, customers will not be required to pay to replace a lead service line.

Customers can scan the QR code on the postcard from the company or visit tinyurl.com/pawcsurvey or call 1-877-201-7926 to provide information.