Ludington asks residents to help identify water service lines

LUDINGTON — The City of Ludington is asking residents to voluntarily help identify the material of the water service lines that serve their homes as the city continues its Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

Like all communities across Michigan, Ludington is required under the state’s Lead and Copper Rule to inventory every water service line and replace lead lines, as well as galvanized lines that were previously connected to lead (GPCL). Under the new federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which takes effect Nov. 1, 2027, water systems have 10 years, until Nov. 1, 2037, to ensure their systems are free of lead service lines and GPCL.

For many older services, records are incomplete, so the city cannot yet say with certainty what material is in the ground. Those lines remain listed as unverified until they can be checked at three locations: two points at the curb stop (shutoff valve) in the public right-of-way and one inside the home where the service line enters the building.

This past spring, the city contracted with Plummers/GFL to assist with the verification work. The contract was supported through a TMF grant that required no local matching funds. Plummers/GFL completed inspections at a large number of properties, but many homes remain uninspected.

“Resident participation is extremely helpful,” said John Lenio, utility maintenance superintendent for the City of Ludington. “What we’re finding is that a lot of homes in Ludington have had replacement service lines done that we have no record of. Finding out truly how many lines need to be replaced will help us better plan our overall lead service line replacement project. It also allows us to improve the accuracy of our records while reducing the need for staff to make individual visits to properties. That frees our crew to keep up with other essential water and sewer maintenance.”

To help improve the inventory, the city has launched a Water Service Line Self-Reporting Program. Residents can take a clear photograph of the water service line where it enters their home and submit it through an online form on the city’s website. Those photos are digitally documented and tied to individual properties in the city’s geographic information system (GIS), helping improve Ludington’s Distribution System Materials Inventory (DSMI).

The form is available at https://www.ludington.mi.us/493/Water-Service-Line-Self-Reporting-Progam.

Residents who are certain Plummers/GFL staff already entered their homes and photographed their water service lines do not need to submit additional pictures. Those who are unsure whether an inspection took place are encouraged to submit a photo.

If a water service line enters through a crawlspace or is otherwise difficult to reach, residents who would prefer to have city utility maintenance staff conduct an inspection can contact the Utility Maintenance Department to schedule an appointment.

The city regularly tests for lead and copper in accordance with federal and state regulations, and Ludington has not had any lead or copper samples exceeding the current action level.

Residents who want to replace their service lines before the city’s contractor reaches their streets also have a new option under the City of Ludington Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Reimbursement Policy.

The policy reimburses property owners for 50% of the cost of voluntarily replacing lead or GPCL service lines ahead of the city’s schedule. Applications are available at City Hall and on the city’s website and must be submitted to the Utility Maintenance Department for review and approval before any work begins. Failure to obtain approval before work begins may result in denial of reimbursement.

Residents who are unsure what material their water service lines are made of are encouraged to submit a photo or schedule an appointment for Utility Maintenance Department staff to help classify the lines. There is no charge to submit photos through the self-reporting program.

For questions about the self-reporting program, scheduling an inspection, lead service line replacement or the voluntary reimbursement option, contact Lenio at 231-843-2873 or jlenio@ci.ludington.mi.us.

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