City Administrator Nevada Lemke says the students are counting the number of lead lines to help the city comply with a recent state law.
"So once we get those identified and turned in and they're logged with the EPA, we can start that process of planning how to replace them and then moving into that phase of actually doing that replacement for them."
Once an inventory is completed, then the state will allow two years to plan how to replace these service lines. Water service providers then have up to 20 years to replace them.
Lemke says Silvis residents shouldn't worry too much if their house has a lead service line.
"There are a lot of lead service lines and they're not necessarily interacting with the water treatment, and so you're not seeing that level of urgency I guess to switch those out but it is something we want to do as they age - that aging infrastructure things break down over long periods of time."
She estimates there are up to 2,500 homes on the Silvis water system.
Pictures of the students are posted on the city's Facebook page so home-owners will know who they are, and not be afraid to let them inside to inspect their water connection.
The students are in the Engineering and GIS (Geographical Information Science) Programs.
