Sturgis notifying residents about lead water service lines
The city is required to notify residents annually if they have lead, galvanized service lines previously connected to a lead service line (GPCL), or unknown lead status service lines.
The City of Sturgis is notifying residents that they may receive a letter in the mail about lead service lines, but that it does not mean the city’s water is unsafe. Providing these notices affects communities nationwide.
The city is required to notify residents annually if they have lead, galvanized service lines previously connected to a lead service line (GPCL), or unknown lead status service lines. The letters are being sent out this week. Residents who have non-lead service lines will not receive a notice.
The EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions enacted in 2021 require these notifications.
“Receipt of a notification does not indicate that there is an issue with your water quality, however the notice does provide information if you have concerns regarding lead,” the city stated. “Those who receive notices identifying their water service as ‘unknown’ should know that this does not indicate you have a lead service, only that the City has not been able to completely identify if the service is lead, GPCL, or non-lead.”
The city has been working to determine the status of the service line material for each of the over 4,000 water services in the system over the last six years. So far, 1,341 lead service lines, 176 GPCL services, and 75 services with an unknown lead status have been identified.
There is a map of city water service lines and their current status that residents can consult. Properties with an unknown status may receive additional letters while the city reviews the water service inside of premises where information is lacking.
The city has budgeted to replace lead and GPCL service lines as needed and as part of scheduled utility construction projects. From mid-2018 to late 2023, 241 lead service lines or galvanized lines connected to lead service lines were replaced or removed.
All lead, GPCL, and unknown lead status water services must be replaced or labeled as “non-lead” by 2037 per EPA regulations.
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